Parkinson’s disease: ‘Can you hold onto this please?’ One sign of the disease

The movement disorder affects the nervous system, so the first signs of the condition tends to appear in the body. This is because there’s a fall in dopamine levels in the brain.

The brain is the master of movement, with the cerebellum – at the back of the brain – controlling balance, coordination and fine muscle control, as noted by John Hopkins Medicine.

An example of fine muscle control is walking, and a sign of the disease can show up in the way you move and your coordination.

According to Medical News Today, an early sign of Parkinson’s disease is that there may be an uncontrollable tremor (shaking) in the hand.

The charity Parkinson’s UK details that tremors can appear in two ways: resting or action.

A resting tremor occurs when the body is still and relaxed, for example lying in bed.

It’s common for people with the neurodegenerative condition to experience a “pill-rolling” tremor.

To illustrate what a “pill-rolling” tremor looks like, imagine you’re trying to roll a pill between your thumb and index finger.

Meanwhile, an action tremor happens when you’re trying to hold a cup or another object.

In addition to a tremor, Medical News Today noted that a reduced sense of coordination can be another sign of the disease.

This reduction in coordination can cause people to drop items they were holding.

So, if somebody (or yourself) is struggling to hold onto things, it could be indicative of Parkinson’s.

Other warning signs of the condition, pointed out by Medical News Today, include experiencing a tremor in the voice, or the person may speak more softly nowadays.

In addition, somebody’s handwriting can become more cramped and smaller in appearance.

It’s not uncommon for someone with Parkinson’s to experience issues with their posture.

For those with the disease, they may begin to lean forward slightly in their posture, and they may gain a shuffling gait.

The Columbia University Department of Neurology confirmed the motor system disorder arises from “the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells”.

It added that people with the condition are likely to experience bradykinesia at some point.

Bradykinesia is the medical term to describe slowness in initiating movement.

Slowness of movement falls under the “motor symptoms” bracket, but there are “non-motor” signs of the disease too.

For example, the Department of Neurology stated that people with the condition can develop depression.

It could also lead to male erectile dysfunction, sleep disturbances and drooling.

If you’re concerned about Parkinson’s, do speak to your GP about any symptoms you’re experiencing, or any you notice in a loved one.

A diagnosis can be made by a specialist who can then discuss treatment options moving forward.

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