Parkinson’s Disease is often associated with symptoms like slowness of movement and tremors. While they are important symptoms of the disease, they are not the only ones. People are frequently surprised to find out that the disease also has non-motor symptoms and impacts functions such as sleep, mood and digestion.

Knowledge of both the motor and non-motor symptoms is important as it helps in the early recognition of the disease and improves the effectiveness of its management. At Royal Care Neurosciences, we are of the view that knowing the symptoms helps in the timely seeking of treatment and in the improvement of the quality of life.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s Disease is a disease of the nervous system, in its latter stages mainly of the brain, that leads to issues with movement and other functions of the body. It is mainly due to the death of nerve cells in the brain that produce a neurotransmitter called dopamine.

Dopamine is important for the control of muscles and coordination between them. As the level of dopamine decreases, the body starts to exhibit a variety of symptoms, both psychological and physical. These symptoms develop slowly over a period of time and are not uniform across the population.

Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Of the many symptoms of the disease, motor symptoms are the most prominent and the most recognizable and tend to directly impact movement and physical activity.

1. Tremors
Tremors are usually the first noticeable symptoms. They start on usually one hand or one or a few fingers and can happen even while the person isn’t moving. Some call it a pill-rolling motion.

2. Slowness of Movement (Bradykinesia)
Simple tasks, even walking, dressing or eating, take longer due to a general slowdown of movements. A lot of the time, in fact, movements are more limited.

3. Muscle Stiffness (Rigidity)
Even when a person is not moving, hit can be stiff or tight. This can be painful. This can also reduce the comfort zone of the person’s movement and restrict how flexible the movements can be.

4. Balance and Posture Problems
Difficulties with balance can also be seen in persons with a stooped posture, with increased chances of falling.

5. Reduced Facial Expression
Some call it a masked face where the person looks serious or unentertained. This is due to the fact that not much is happening on the face to capture people’s attention.

6. Changes in Walking Pattern
The changes are not sudden but gradual and synchronized. Steps are of a shorter length, shuffles and initiations are occurring less frequently, which suggests that the person is suffering from this problem.

Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Non-motor symptoms may be less obvious than motor symptoms but can still be debilitating. In some cases, these symptoms might appear years before the onset of motor symptoms.

1. Loss of Sense of Smell
One of the most common early signs of Parkinson’s is a reduced ability to detect certain smells. Three common examples of smells that may be hard to detect are the smell of food or flowers.

2. Sleep Disturbances
Insomnia, sleep walking, and waking up often are all examples of problems that people can experience. Sleep problems are common.

3. Constipation
Constipation is a digestive issue that many people report, and is often one of the first signs of Parkinson’s.

4. Mood Changes
Many people report feeling less motivated, anxious, and depressed. These feelings are thought to be caused by chemical imbalances that happen in the brain.

5. Fatigue
Fatigue is a common but under-reported symptom of Parkinson’s.

6. Speech and Swallowing Difficulties
Some people are unable to speak loudly or clearly. Many of these people also have problems with swallowing.

7. Cognitive Changes
Memory, thinking, and cognitive processes that require mental effort are all examples of cognitive functions that may be impaired in later stages of Parkinson’s.

Key Differences Between Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms

• Non-motor symptoms are the opposite of the motor symptoms, which include tremors and stiffness. These symptoms are not visible and are mental in nature.
• Motor symptoms are easier to spot than non-motor symptoms, which are internal and harder to identify, including mood, sleep, and digestion.
• Motor symptoms can be more pronounced and often are the reasons why someone seeks medical assistance; non-motor symptoms are just as important and can impact a person’s quality of life tremendously.

How Symptoms Impact Daily Life

• With motor symptoms, a person may find walking, writing, dressing, and performing other tasks more difficult than before.
• With non-motor symptoms, a person may experience decreased sleep and emotional deterioration, coupled with physical fatigue.
• All of these symptoms can lead to a decreased quantity and quality of life. For this reason, it is important to integrate all these potential issues to ensure a positive quality of life.

How is Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosed?

Diagnosing Parkinson’s Disease can only be done by paying close attention to the symptoms. There is no singular test that can identify this condition.

• Medical History: Doctors examine all the symptoms and how they’ve changed over time, as well as any familial occurrences of similar symptoms.
• Neurological Examination: This could involve reviewing their movements, coordination, reflexes, and the overall tone of their muscles.
• Response to Medication: If the person taking the medication for Parkinson’s Disease reports any positive changes, that could help confirm the diagnosis.
• Imaging Tests: Sometimes doctors will use an MRI or other highly specialized scans to ensure there are no other medical issues in the brain.

Because the symptoms range widely from one patient to another, a diagnosis is often time-consuming, especially in the early stages of the condition.

What Are The Two Types Of Symptoms And Why Are They Important?

• Failing to recognize and consider the non-motor symptoms may lead to them developing specific ways to manage their well-being in order to lead their lives as fully as possible.
• The timely identification of non-motor symptoms in addition to the motor symptoms can determine the severity of the motor symptoms and the development of management plans, and improve the quality of life for the individual.
• It can also improve the understanding of the condition for the individual and their family.

When Is It Time To Talk to Someone Professionally About It?

• If you have ongoing symptoms such as unexplained lifting of the arms and legs, stiffness, difficulty falling asleep, or episodes of being unable to control your emotions, you may want to consider talking to a neurologist.
• Even temporary symptoms are a reason to seek help.
• An initial assessment to rule out other disorders can help ease the anxiety before a diagnosis of Parkinson’s.

Final Thoughts

Parkinson’s disease is more than a movement disorder. While the motor symptoms, such as the involuntary shaking of the hands, legs or other body parts and stiffness, are the most common, disorders of sleep, moods, digestion, etc., are also extremely important.

Being able to differentiate these two categories of symptoms can aid in faster identification and improved treatment strategies. At Royal Care Neurosciences, we utilize an all-encompassing method to treat both the active and passive elements of the condition so patients can achieve greater fulfilment and relief in their existence.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. In Parkinson’s disease, can non-motor symptoms show up before the motor symptoms?
Symptoms that pertain to movements (motor symptoms) do not include symptoms like loss of the sense of smell, sleep disorders, or constipation, which can show up several years beforehand.

2. Should non-motor symptoms be taken lightly?
Not at all. Non-motor symptoms can also alter your existence drastically and should be taken seriously, like motor symptoms.

3. Is it possible that some patients do not have either motor or non-motor symptoms?
It’s possible, but out of all forms of Parkinson’s disease, this is the least common.