Parkinson's Disease Symptoms

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is chronic and progressive, affecting that part of the brain that controls the movement of muscles. The most common form of parkinsonism is Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, which is termed thus since the cause is not known, whereas the cause is either known or at least suspected in the other forms of Parkinson’s disease, such as Postencephalitic Parkinsonism, Drug-Induced Parkinsonism, Striatonigral Degeneration, Toxin-Induced Parkinsonism, Arteriosclerotic Parkinsonism or Pseudoparkinsonism.

Parkinson’s disease is also termed progressive because the symptoms worsen over time. Exactly what causes this disease is still not known, although many researchers suspect that it could be caused due to a combination of facts, such as: accelerated aging; hereditary predisposition; environmental toxins; and free radicals.

However, with modern advances in medicine, Parkinson’s disease can be treated quite effectively, compared to other serious neurological diseases. Basically, Parkinson’s disease symptoms are caused due to the degeneration of brain cells that produce dopamine, particularly in the locus coeruleus and the substantia nigra. Dopamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter which is essential for the normal functioning of the central nervous system, or the nerve cells that control the movement of muscles. When there is a reduction of the production of dopamine, the nerves of the motor system lose their capacity to control coordination and movement of the muscles. In fact, by the time Parkinson’s disease symptoms occur, the afflicted person has already lost about 80 percent or so of their cells that produce dopamine.

Here are Some of the Main Parkinson's Disease Symptoms

Some of the characteristic symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are: tremors; bradykinesia, or slowing down of movement; rigidity; difficulty in walking, known as parkinsonian gait; and poor balance. However, not all of these symptoms occur together in most people afflicted with the disease.

The progress of the disease can either occur gradually, over time, or swiftly. While some people are able to function comparatively well, other people experience profound disability. Parkinson’s disease symptoms can vary from one moment to another as well as from one day to another, and the reason for this variation of symptoms is not quite clear. Some scientists attribute the variations to the process of the disease or to the medications taken for it. The main Parkinson’s disease symptoms are:

Tremors: This usually begins with a slight trembling of the hand, or even a single finger, or the forearm. Tremor can also occur in the foot. These tremors have a tendency of occurring when the limb is at rest, disappearing while carrying out tasks. Sometimes the chin and mouth can also tremble. Although most people find tremors very distressing, it is generally not disabling.

Bradykinesia: This is basically a slowing down of voluntary movement. Not only does difficulty occur when movement is initiated, but it is also difficult to complete the movement once it is set in motion. Bradykinesia occurs due to the reduction of dopamine, which causes delay in the transmission of signals from the brain to the muscles.

Impaired Balance: This is caused because of the loss or impairment of the reflexes that help in adjusting the posture required for maintaining balance. It is common for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease to lose their balance and fall.

Rigidity of Muscles: Stiffness of the muscles can cause pain in the muscles and create a mask-like, expressionless face. This symptom has the tendency of increasing during movement. Rigidity can also affect the neck and limbs.

Impairment of Speech: Often, there is difficulty in speaking, and the voice usually becomes very soft and monotonous. This symptom is also known as hypophonia.

Impairment of Automatic Movements: Swinging the arms while walking, smiling, and blinking are movements that occur automatically. These are affected in a person afflicted with Parkinson’s disease, either by being reduced or completely lost. Sometimes this results in unblinking eyes and a staring, fixed expression. Others may lose their ability to gesture or look animated while speaking.

Difficulty in Swallowing: This usually occurs in the advanced stages of the disease. This symptom is also known as dysphagia, and causes drooling, coughing, or choking. However, except rarely, most people affected by this symptom have the ability to eat food on their own.

Parkinsonian Gait: The unsteady gait associated with this disease is one of its characteristic symptoms. People afflicted with this disease have a tendency of either leaning forward or backward unnaturally. They also develop a drooped-shoulders, head-bent-down, and generally stooped stance. They have a tendency of taking shuffling, small steps, known as festination. They have difficulty in starting to walk, seem to be falling forward while walking, freeze in the middle of their stride, and find it difficult to turn.

Dementia: Although it is usually associated with Alzheimer’s disease, it can also occur, albeit rarely, with Parkinson’s disease, occurring in its later stages. The onset of this symptom is usually marked with a slowing down of thought processes and difficulty in concentration.

Some of the other Parkinson’s disease symptoms are: hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating; incontinence; seborrhea, or scaling of the skin, particularly on the scalp and face; micrographia, or handwriting that is small and cramped; and psychosocial problems like depression, anxiety, and a feeling of isolation.