10 Signs of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease creeps up slowly, starting with mild symptoms that are easy to ignore at first. What follow are three cardinal features of the disorder (signs 1, 2, and 3 below) that doctors look for, along with seven related signs (signs 4 through 10) that could be additional evidence of the illness.

If you notice these kinds of changes in a loved one, consider seeking an opinion from a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders. Parkinson’s disease can be tricky to identify, and not every patient will have all the possible symptoms. So a careful clinical examination by an expert is crucial.

According to widely used guidelines from the United Kingdom Parkinson’s Disease Society Brain Bank, the first indicators of a Parkinson’s diagnosis are sign number 1 and at least one of signs number 2 through 4:

1. The person moves very slowly and seems clumsier.

2. The person’s hand or leg shakes when in a resting position.

3. The person complains about feeling stiff or sore.

4. The person has been tripping or is unsteady on her feet.

5. The problems start on one side of the body.

6. The person’s handwriting has changed.

7. The person seems sad and low on energy.

8. When the person walks, one arm doesn’t swing as much.

9. The person doesn’t notice odors.

10. The person’s speech is harder to hear and understand.