In the Netherlands, approximately 55,000 people live with Parkinson’s disease. Although we often think of the elderly when we think of this brain disorder, anyone can get it. What are the first symptoms that may indicate Parkinson’s?
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The symptoms of people with Parkinson’s disease vary, but there are often similarities in the first symptoms that appear.
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a complex disease that originates in the brain. In people with Parkinson’s, certain brain cells slowly die, and sufficient dopamine is no longer produced. Dopamine is a substance in your brain that helps transmit signals to other brain cells. Due to a deficiency, these signals are no longer transmitted or are no longer transmitted properly. This changes your movements, appearance, speech and behavior, among other things.
Because many different brain cells are affected by this substance, the symptoms of Parkinson’s can vary. The symptoms can be divided into two categories: motor and non-motor complaints. The former include trembling hands, stiffness and difficulty walking. The second category includes depressive thoughts or memory disorders.
First symptoms of Parkinson’s
The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease vary from person to person, so it is not surprising that the first signs of the condition are not the same for everyone. The first signs of Parkinson’s are often mild and are not immediately linked to a brain disorder. Many people only realize after the diagnosis that they have been suffering from symptoms consistent with Parkinson’s for much longer than expected. However, there are a number of points that are common in almost all patients with this condition.
The following symptoms are commonly reported in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease:
Sleep changes, including suddenly talking in your sleep. A so-called tremor: a slight vibration in one of the fingers, the hand or sometimes the chin. The trembling continues at rest and cannot be stopped. When you strain the hand, the shaking often decreases. Mood changes Slower movements and difficulty starting and stopping a movement; poorer responsiveness. Decreasing mobility of the body. For example, while walking, one of the arms can no longer move as it did before. Muscle stiffness and therefore pain. Intestinal complaints, such as constipation.
Do you recognize several of the above symptoms? Then it is wise to go to the doctor. Although these symptoms certainly do not always indicate Parkinson’s, it is advisable to have this examined by a specialist.
Chronic condition
The symptoms of Parkinson’s usually start on one side of the body. Even when the disease progresses and you have complaints on both sides, this remains the ‘worst’ side with the most complaints. Parkinson’s is a chronic condition and often becomes more serious over time. There is no cure (yet) for Parkinson’s disease, but there are various treatments available to limit the symptoms as much as possible. Depending on what complaints someone has, medications can be used, but also the skills of healthcare providers such as physiotherapists and psychologists.
Parkinson’s disease is progressive and over time the symptoms become more severe despite treatment. When more brain cells die, more complaints arise. How quickly this happens varies per patient and per combination of complaints, so it is difficult to give a time course of Parkinson’s.
Bron: ParkinsonNet, Parkinson Fonds, Parkinson’s Foundation, On with Parkinson’s
19 september 2023
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2023-09-19 15:11:34
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