Parkinson's disease
A disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, often including tremors.
Nerve cell damage in the brain causes dopamine levels to drop, leading to the symptoms of Parkinson's.
Parkinson's often starts with a tremor in one hand. Other symptoms are slow movement, stiffness and loss of balance.
Medications can help control the symptoms of Parkinson's.
ages affected
| 0-2 |
|
| 3-5 |
|
| 6-13 |
|
| 14-18 |
|
| 19-40 |
|
| 41-60 |
|
| 60+ |
|
Requires a medical diagnosis
Parkinson's often starts with a tremor in one hand. Other symptoms are slow movement, stiffness and loss of balance.
People may experience:
Tremor: can occur at rest, in the hands, limbs, or can be postural
Muscular: difficulty standing, difficulty walking, difficulty with bodily movements, involuntary movements, muscle rigidity, problems with coordination, rhythmic muscle contractions, slow bodily movement, stiff muscles, or slow shuffling gait
Sleep: daytime sleepiness, early awakening, nightmares, or restless sleep
Whole body: dizziness, fatigue, poor balance, or restlessness
Cognitive: amnesia, confusion in the evening hours, dementia, or difficulty thinking and understanding
Speech: impaired voice, soft speech, or voice box spasms
Mood: anxiety or apathy
Nasal: distorted sense of smell or loss of smell
Urinary: dribbling of urine or leaking of urine
Facial: jaw stiffness or reduced facial expression
Also common: blank stare, constipation, depression, difficulty swallowing, drooling, falling, fear of falling, loss in contrast sensitivity, neck tightness, small handwriting, trembling, unintentional writhing, or weight loss