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Involuntary Tremors Due to Parkinson's Disease

Tremor, or involuntary shaking, is the symptom most closely identified with Parkinson's disease. It affects the limbs but may also spread to other parts of the body and is accompanied by other Parkinson's symptoms.

  1. Cause

    • In Parkinson's disease, according to Medline Plus, cells that produce the chemical messenger dopamine die or stop working. The loss of these cells leads to a progressive loss of muscle control and causes involuntary movements like tremor.

    Time Frame

    • The Mayo Clinic reports that a mild tremor in one hand is usually the first symptom of Parkinson's disease in an individual.

    Location

    • Parkinson's tremor (and other symptoms) starts on one side of the body but eventually spreads to the other side. According to the Mayo Clinic, the side first affected remains more severely affected than the other side of the body.

    Related Symptoms

    • According to Medline Plus and the Mayo Clinic, a related hand motion also occurs in which affected individuals rub their forefinger and thumb across each other (known as "pill rolling").

    Features

    • The Mayo Clinic notes that, although tremor is a key symptom of Parkinson's disease, some individuals have only mild tremor symptoms.

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