Key takeaways
- Subtle changes in motor skills, such as handwriting becoming smaller (micrographia), can be an early indication of Parkinson’s disease. This happens because of changes in the brain affecting movement control.
- Early symptoms of Parkinson’s can include sleep disturbances, such as insomnia and restless leg syndrome, which can make it difficult to fall and stay asleep.
- Besides obvious tremors, Parkinson’s disease can cause rigidity, slow movement, voice changes, a rigid facial expression, and changes in posture.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurological movement disorder that affects approximately
Some early symptoms include:
- cramped handwriting or other writing changes
- tremor, especially in the finger, hand, or foot
- uncontrollable movements during sleep
- slow movement (bradykinesia)
- voice changes
- rigid facial expression or masking
- stooped posture
PD starts with the brain cells, called neurons, which control movement. The neurons affected by Parkinson’s disease produce a substance called dopamine. PD sets in when specific neurons die and dopamine levels in the brain decrease. Experts think the lack of dopamine causes symptoms that affect how you move.
Early signs of Parkinson’s disease can be easy to miss, especially if they occur sporadically. It may be time for you or a loved one to see a doctor if you notice recurring symptoms.
A change in the size of your handwriting may be an early indicator of Parkinson’s disease. People with PD have a hard time controlling movement because of the changes in the brain. This can affect many different motor skills, including writing.
“Micrographia” is the medical term for small handwriting. People with Parkinson’s disease often have handwriting that looks cramped. Individual letters tend to be smaller than typical, and words are spaced closely.
A person with PD may be able to write in the size they intend for a short time, but as they relax, the writing usually becomes smaller after a few minutes.
Tremor is perhaps the most recognizable sign of Parkinson’s disease. A slight shaking of a finger, hand, or foot is common.
The person experiencing the tremor is likely to be the only one who notices it in the early stages of PD. However, the shaking will worsen and become noticeable to others as the condition progresses. The tremor is usually most noticeable at rest.
Parkinson’s disease is associated with many different types of sleep problems, including insomnia, vivid dreams, and trouble regulating sleep times.
Additionally, another movement disorder, restless leg syndrome (RLS), is more common among people with Parkinson’s disease. RLS causes urges to move the extremities, particularly when it’s time to sleep. This condition makes it very difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
New sleep problems can be an early sign of Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease mainly affects adults
Rigidity and slow movement (bradykinesia) appear early in PD. These symptoms are caused by the degeneration of some brain neurons that help control movement. A person with PD will notice jerky motions and a more uncoordinated pattern of movement than before. Eventually, a person may develop the characteristic “shuffling gait.”
Another characteristic is slow walking that then rapidly speeds up with fast, small steps.
Parkinson’s disease affects movement in different ways, including how you speak. You might be familiar with the slurred speech of people with advanced PD. Less dramatic voice changes can occur in early stages of the disease.
Enunciation will most likely remain crystal clear early on in PD. However, the person may be speaking more quietly unintentionally. People in early stages of PD often speak in low tones, a hoarse voice, or with little inflection.
Parkinson’s disease may also cause people to speak very fast.
Parkinson’s can affect the natural facial expressions in addition to gross motor skills. People often comment that some individuals with PD have a blank stare.
This phenomenon, called masking (or hypomimia), is a common sign of early PD. People with PD may have a very serious look on their face even when the conversation is lighthearted and lively. People with PD often blink less often as well.
Parkinson’s disease affects a person’s emotions and expressions. Most people with PD feel less emotional and are less expressive most of the time. Still, they may sometimes express emotions that are out of proportion to the situation, such as laughing or crying in an exaggerated way that doesn’t reflect how they feel.
People typically associate changes in posture with later stages of PD, but some research suggests that it can also be an early indicator. Posture will change in small ways at first, and will gradually worsen.
A stooped posture, which can also be described as leaning and slouching, may be an early indicator of PD. This can be due to a loss of coordination and balance.
This stooped posture may sometimes make it look like a person is going to fall over. It is possible to straighten the back, but when a person is relaxed, the stooped posture can return.
Parkinson’s disease is a serious and chronic condition. PD treatment is more successful when the disease is caught in its earliest stages. Diagnosis can be difficult, as many of the early signs are similar to those of other conditions.
You know your body better than anyone else. Talk with a doctor if you have any concerns about your physical movement or behavior, or if something doesn’t feel right.
Early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can sometimes be easy to miss. Small handwriting, tremors, a rigid facial expression, and changes to the voice are just some of the signs that could indicate Parkinson’s disease.
If you are concerned about any symptoms you or a loved one may be experiencing, speak with a doctor.