Parkinson’s disease is now the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world. Early signs can be subtle and easy to put down to age. Recognising them leads to earlier support and treatment.
Imagine your mother’s handwriting getting smaller, her walk becoming slower and one hand trembling when it rests on her lap. She’d also lost her sense of smell years ago. Together these signs point to Parkinson’s. With medication and physiotherapy, she’s back gardening most days.
Early signs to look for
- A tremor, often in one hand, mainly at rest
- Slowness of movement (bradykinesia)
- Stiff muscles and reduced arm swing when walking
- Smaller handwriting
- A softer voice or less facial expression
Non-movement symptoms often come years earlier: loss of smell, constipation, acting out dreams during sleep, low mood or anxiety, and dizziness on standing.
How it’s diagnosed
There’s no single test. A specialist, usually a neurologist or geriatrician, diagnoses Parkinson’s based on symptoms and examination. Scans may help rule out other conditions. Not every tremor is Parkinson’s; essential tremor, for example, is more common and behaves differently.
But can it be treated?
There’s no cure yet, but treatment can control symptoms well for many years:
- Medicines such as levodopa that replace or mimic dopamine. Taking them on time matters a lot.
- Exercise and physiotherapy to maintain strength, balance and movement
- Speech and occupational therapy for voice, swallowing and daily tasks
- Deep brain stimulation for some people whose symptoms are hard to control
Your next step: If you’ve noticed several of these signs in yourself or someone close, write them down with dates and book a doctor’s appointment.
Sources: World Health Organization (Parkinson disease), Parkinson’s Foundation, Parkinson’s UK, US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
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