10 Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease
June 5, 2024
Approximately 64,000 Floridians have Parkinson's disease, making Florida the state with the highest percentage of residents diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the country.
As a Movement Disorders Specialist, I am a Neurologist with an additional two years of specialized fellowship training focused on movement disorders and head of the Tallahassee Memorial Movement Disorders Clinic at TMH Physician Partners – Neurology. Movement disorders are neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease, that cause challenges with movements. In my role, I work with patients and their families to help treat these disorders and improve their quality of life.
My father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease so I know how difficult it can be for the caregivers and families of patients. As a Neurologist, learning of my dad’s diagnosis was shocking. It sparked a passion in me to work with patients and families with Parkinson’s disease, hoping to eventually find a cure.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that falls under the category of parkinsonism – an umbrella term that describes a group of neurological disorders that cause movement problems.
The main symptoms of Parkinson’s are tremors, slow movement and stiffness. There is also an atypical form of Parkinson’s that can have additional symptoms such as dementia, hallucinations or early falling.
Parkinson’s disease makes up about 80% of parkinsonism diagnoses. The effects of Parkinson’s are mostly due to a lack of neurons producing dopamine in the brain. Parkinson’s is not usually the cause of someone’s death but is a condition that progresses as you age and needs continuous treatment by a medical professional.
Diagnosing Parkinson’s Disease
There is not one diagnostic test to determine whether a patient has Parkinson’s or other types of parkinsonisms. It is determined by an individual’s history, symptoms and physical exam. Certain tests like a magnetic resonance imaging of the brain (Brain MRI), a dopamine transporter scan (DaT scan), skin biopsy or blood work can support the diagnosis of Parkinson’s or rule out other medical conditions that mimic the disease.
10 Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s usually presents itself in individuals in their 60’s and 70’s – however, that is not always the case. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below in combination with one another, express your concerns to your primary care physician or visit us at the Movement Disorders Clinic.
- Tremor - A slight tremor in your finger, thumb, hand or chin while at rest.
- Small handwriting - A change of handwriting, such as appearing smaller or more crowded.
- Loss of smell - Loss of smelling certain foods like bananas, dill pickles or licorice.
- Trouble sleeping - Having trouble sleeping throughout the night on a consistent basis.
- Trouble moving or walking - Feeling stiff in your body, arms, legs, shoulders or hips when moving or walking, or feeling like your feet are “stuck to the floor.”
- Constipation - Having trouble moving your bowels if there is not another underlying reason such as diet, medicine, etc.
- A soft or low voice - Your voice changing to become very soft or hoarse.
- Masked face - Facial masking, or your face appearing different from what you’re feeling, like having a serious, depressed or mad look when you do not feel those emotions.
- Dizziness/fainting - Feeling dizzy when standing up or fainting on a consistent basis can be a sign of low blood pressure and linked to Parkinson’s disease.
- Stooping or hunching over - Stooping, leaning or slouching as you stand.
Treating Parkinson’s Disease
After diagnosis, working with a movement disorder specialist to find the right dosage of medicine is critical. Dosage can change throughout a patient’s lifetime as the disorder progresses and the brain needs more dopamine. Allowing your brain to receive the correct amount of dopamine at the right time during the day helps with symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as a patient’s tremor, balance and gait. Working with a trained physician consistently helps determine when more dopamine is needed.
If you or a loved one is diagnosed with a movement disorder, such as Parkinson’s disease, TMH offers a variety of treatments and services:
- Ongoing neurological care and treatment
- Nutrition and exercise recommendations
- Comprehensive therapies (physical, occupational and speech)
- Medication and lifestyle management
- Surgical patient support through our DBS Navigator
- Skin biopsies for alpha-synucleinopathies
- Neuropsychological evaluation
- VYALEV, a 24-hour continuous infusion of levodopa-based therapy
Deep Brain Stimulation
When medication is no longer effective to manage movement disorders, Deep Brain Stimulation may be an option. TMH’s fellowship-trained functional neurosurgeon, Matthew Davis, MD, performs the minimally-invasive procedure that relieves tremor symptoms by delivering an electrical current into the brain to stimulate cells in the area. Deep Brain Stimulation is a remarkably well-studied procedure and has demonstrated excellent results with long-term success. Deep Brain Stimulation patients also receive comprehensive care following the procedure from the movement disorders team at TMH Physician Partners – Neurology.
Patient-centered care
At Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, we pride ourselves on working with the patient, their family and loved ones in close collaboration. Our multidisciplinary approach to patient care provides you with a more informed, effective and patient-centered model of neurological care. For more information about movement disorders, visit TMH.ORG/Movement.
