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 your parent, 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:
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Your parent moves very slowly and seems clumsier.
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Your parent's hand or leg shakes when in a resting position.
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Your parent complains about feeling stiff or sore.
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Your parent has been tripping or is unsteady on her feet.
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The problems start on one side of the body.
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Your parent's handwriting has changed.
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Your parent seems sad and low on energy.
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When your parent walks, one arm doesn't swing as much.
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Your parent doesn't notice odors.
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Your parent's speech is harder to hear and understand.
