10 Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease
September 30, 2020
Below are 10 signs you might have Parkinson’s disease. It is important to remember that everyone experiences Parkinson’s disease differently. While these are common early symptoms, if you experience one of these symptoms it does not mean you have Parkinson’s disease. The Parkinson’s Foundation suggests that if you have more than one sign you should consider speaking with your doctor.”
Non-motor symptoms, such as loss of smell, constipation, & difficulty sleeping, often appear before the more physical symptoms of the disease. These non-motor symptoms are called premotor symptoms and can appear years before diagnosis.
According to the Davis Phinney Foundation, “The more visible physical symptoms of Parkinson’s, like tremors, slowness or stiffness, start in most people after 60-80% of certain dopamine-producing nerve cells are damaged.” These symptoms include tremors, stiffness, and stooping or hunching over.
The Davis Phinney Foundation also leaves us with the reminder that “No two people living with Parkinson’s will experience symptoms or progression of it in the exact same way. Just because something is listed as a symptom of Parkinson’s doesn’t mean you will experience it.”
More Resources
The Parkinson’s Foundation 10 Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease
The Davis Phinney Foundation What is Parkinson’s?
The Michael J Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Screening Questionnaire aims to help people determine if they should speak to their doctor or a movement disorder specialist about Parkinson’s disease. Take the Parkinson’s Screening Questionnaire here.
National Library of Medicine Premotor and non-motor features of Parkinson’s disease