Parkinson’s disease falls into four groups: tremor, slowness of voluntary movement, muscle stiffness and postural changes. Slowing of movements may restrict speech and facial expressions, giving some sufferers an expressionless appearance. According to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Parkinson’s disease affects different people in different ways. Some sufferers experience only a few symptoms, particularly in the early stage of the illness, while others exhibit tremors as their predominant symptom progressing to clumsiness and stiffness.
Musculoskeletal
As Parkinson’s disease progresses, a noticeable change in posture and gait, as well as a general instability and rigidity of the arms, legs and body occurs. The person tends to bend forward and often has difficulty maintaining his balance. As the person moves forward, he or she often takes small, shuffling steps and sometimes accelerates to an increasingly rapid walking pace to avoid falling. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, meaning symptoms get worse as time goes on. In its advanced stages, the disease can be extremely disabling, producing severe weakness.
Tremors
Hand tremor is an early sign of Parkinson’s disease. Initially, tremors often affect only one hand and improves or disappears when the person performs purposeful movement. Tremors later spread to involve the head, jaws and legs. As there are no tests to assist in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, the disease is often diagnosed based on the person’s symptoms, such as hand tremors and balance problems. When the diagnosis is in doubt, during the early stages, doctors sometimes adopt a wait-and-see-approach.
Very small handwriting called micrographia that shows signs of tremor is a hallmark sign of Parkinson’s disease. Legibility often improves with drug treatment.
Mental
Although Parkinson’s disease causes brain cell degeneration, it does not seem to diminish intellect in its early stages but may do so late in the course of the illness. Dementia among Parkinson’s disease sufferers, which more often affects older patients, sometimes results from coexisting Alzheimer’s disease or senile dementia. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, doctors will request brain scans or other laboratory tests to rule out other potential diseases.
Psychological
According to Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, as of 2010, a drug has not been found to prevent or reverse this disease, and there are no tests that can definitively diagnose the disease. Depression is a common and natural reaction to the diagnosis of any chronic disease and Parkinson’s is no exception. In some cases, depression seems to be part of the illness and may even predate symptoms that are more obvious. In addition, antiparkinson drugs sometimes have a depressant effect.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Parkinson’s Disease – Levadopa (L-dopa)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: NINDS Parkinson’s Disease Information Page
- Parkinson’s Disease Foundation: What is Parkinson’s Disease
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research: Parkinson’s 101
