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Beginning Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

The beginning symptoms of Parkinson's disease are usually so subtle that it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when the disease actually started. Early symptoms are generally mild and develop gradually. They may go unnoticed for a long period of time---months or even years. Beginning symptoms of Parkinson's disease also tend to vary a great deal from one person to another.

  1. History

    • Symptoms of Parkinson's disease are found in more men than women, about 50 percent more according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The average age of onset of the disease is 60 years, although 5 to 10 percent of cases begin before age 50. In some very rare instances, symptoms of Parkinson's disease appear before age 20.

    Features

    • In the beginning stages of Parkinson's disease, patients often experience fatigue or an overall feeling of uneasiness. They may experience difficulty standing or notice a slight tremor. Some notice things such as a change in their handwriting or a softer voice. Patients may have feelings of anxiety or depression. Family and friends usually begin to notice symptoms before the patient does, especially the stiffening movements and blank facial expression known as "masked face."

    Typical Early Symptoms

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of Parkinson's disease usually start on one side of the body and typically remain worse on that side. Common early symptoms include staring, absence of blinking, stooped posture, dragging one leg or limping and a "frozen" painful shoulder. Other initial symptoms are achiness, tingling, numbness or discomfort in the neck or arms and legs, tremors while at rest, rigid stance when walking (not swinging one arm) and a sensation of trembling internally.

    Identification

    • The symptom most associated with Parkinson's disease is shaking, or tremor, which usually begins in one hand. Patients often exhibit a "pill-rolling" motion---a back-and-forth rubbing of the thumb and forefinger. Eventually, Parkinson's disease may cause slowed motion and decreased ability to make voluntary movements.

    Considerations

    • As Parkinson's disease progresses, it may eventually interfere with normal activities. When this happens, the disease is referred to as late-stage Parkinson's disease. However, it should be noted that many patients do not experience the complete range of symptoms. Most people, in fact, have only mild, noninterfering symptoms.

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