Parkinson’s symptoms are mainly expressed by the characteristic tremors. Affected people usually have a high level of suffering. Are there warning signs that indicate Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s usually progresses slowly, but the symptoms make everyday life difficult for those affected at an early stage. Typical of Parkinson’s disease is tremors, where those affected no longer have complete control over their hands. Precise movements become increasingly difficult as the game progresses. What are the warning signs of Parkinson’s? What are the symptoms at different stages? Here you will find the information summarized in a compact way.
Simply explained: What is Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s is a slowly progressive brain disease. More specifically, the disease affects a small group of neurons in the midbrain, as in the Specialist lexicon MSD Manual is called. These neurons are responsible for producing dopamine, which in turn is necessary for controlling muscle movement. Destruction of the neurons therefore means that certain body movements can no longer be controlled properly. The consequences include trembling muscles and balance disorders.
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The disease is named after James Parkinson. He first described the symptoms of what is known as “shaking paralysis” in 1817. World Parkinson’s Day therefore falls on his birthday, April 11th, every year.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: early signs
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, around seven to ten million people worldwide suffer from Parkinson’s disease.
One of the most common early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is trembling of the fingers and hands, even though the muscles are relaxed. In technical jargon, this is referred to as resting tremor. The symptoms differ depending on the patient, but early symptoms are usually the following:
- Tremble
- slowing down of movements
- Language and writing change
- changes in facial expressions
Initially, the symptoms are often not so pronounced that they can be associated with Parkinson’s. Many symptoms often appear unilaterally at first. The tremor often starts either on the left or right side of the body and not on both hands at the same time. The tremor can according to the MSD Manual be characterized as follows:
- slowly and roughly
- most intensely at rest
- decreasing with movement
- absent during sleep
- increasingly when you are tense or tired
The hands and feet are usually the first to be affected by the tremor, but the jaw and tongue can also be affected.
In the early stages of the disease, the symptoms can also show up as non-specific complaints such as tiredness, depressive moods and sleep disorders. Symptoms are usually only noticed by relatives and not by those affected. Although Parkinson’s cannot be cured, the symptoms can be counteracted.
Symptoms explained: This is how Parkinson’s manifests itself as it progresses
The symptoms can change over a short period of time, but there are still symptoms typical of the disease that affect the majority of patients:
- Stiffness: Muscles become stiff and difficult to move. If a doctor tries to move the stiff joint, “semi-rhythmic convulsions” can occur, as in the MSD Manual means that mobility can vary depending on the position of the joint.
- Bradykinesia: If certain movements are repeated frequently, sufferers tend to reduce other movements. Initiating movement can also be difficult for patients. The consequence is generally slower movement than typical symptom of Parkinson’s disease.
- Postural instability: Patients have problems with balance, walking, standing, or sitting. “They shuffle, take short steps, keep their arms bent around their waists, and swing their arms little or not at all with each step,” the report says MSD Manual.
- Sleep problems: Those affected often suffer from sleep disorders. There can be various reasons for this, including psychological ones, but it can also be due to movement restrictions, since those affected are sometimes unable to turn around themselves in the advanced stage.
- Problems with thinking: About every third Parkinson’s patient develops dementia in the course of the disease.
- Difficulty blinking or swallowing
- Quiet, stuttering speech: the voice itself can get through Parkinson’s do not change, but since the tongue and jaw can be affected by the disease, patients’ speech may change.
Symptoms: how many people are affected?
According to the MSD Manual, the disease begins at an average age of 57 years. However, there is also the rarer juvenile parkinsonism, which can occur in children and adolescents. According to the German Society for Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders, the lifetime risk of developing Parkinson’s is 1.3 percent for women and two percent for men.