Parkinson disease how does it start

Parkinson's disease care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.

This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter.

Show references Jameson JL, et al. Parkinson's disease. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. The McGraw-Hill Companies; Accessed May 26, Parkinson's disease: Hope through research.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Ferri FF. Parkinson disease. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Elsevier; Chou KL. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Parkinson disease. When the neurons die or become impaired, they produce less dopamine, which causes the movement problems of Parkinson's. Scientists still do not know what causes cells that produce dopamine to die. People with Parkinson's also lose the nerve endings that produce norepinephrine, the main chemical messenger of the sympathetic nervous system, which controls many functions of the body, such as heart rate and blood pressure.

The loss of norepinephrine might help explain some of the non-movement features of Parkinson's, such as fatigue , irregular blood pressure, decreased movement of food through the digestive tract, and sudden drop in blood pressure when a person stands up from a sitting or lying-down position. Many brain cells of people with Parkinson's contain Lewy bodies, unusual clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein. Although some cases of Parkinson's appear to be hereditary, and a few can be traced to specific genetic mutations, in most cases the disease occurs randomly and does not seem to run in families.

Many researchers now believe that Parkinson's disease results from a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors such as exposure to toxins. Other symptoms may include depression and other emotional changes; difficulty swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems or constipation ; skin problems ; and sleep disruptions. Sometimes people dismiss early symptoms of Parkinson's as the effects of normal aging.

In most cases, there are no medical tests to definitively detect the disease, so it can be difficult to diagnose accurately.

Early symptoms of Parkinson's disease are subtle and occur gradually. For example, affected people may feel mild tremors or have difficulty getting out of a chair. They may notice that they speak too softly, or that their handwriting is slow and looks cramped or small. Friends or family members may be the first to notice changes in someone with early Parkinson's.

They may see that the person's face lacks expression and animation, or that the person does not move an arm or leg normally. Most experts think that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is responsible. It's thought around 1 in people are affected by Parkinson's disease.

Most people with Parkinson's start to develop symptoms when they're over 50, although around 1 in 20 people with the condition first experience symptoms when they're under Although there's currently no cure for Parkinson's disease, treatments are available to help reduce the main symptoms and maintain quality of life for as long as possible.

You may not need any treatment during the early stages of Parkinson's disease, as symptoms are usually mild. But you may need regular appointments with your specialist so your condition can be monitored. As the condition progresses, the symptoms of Parkinson's disease can get worse and it can become increasingly difficult to carry out everyday activities without help. They may not yet interfere with your daily life and tasks.

The progression from stage 1 to stage 2 can take months or even years. Muscle stiffness can complicate daily tasks, prolonging how long it takes you to complete them. Symptoms may appear on both sides of the body. Changes in posture, gait , and facial expressions may be more noticeable.

At this middle stage, symptoms reach a turning point. They may also interfere with all of your daily tasks. Movements are noticeably slower, which slows down activities. Balance issues become more significant, too, so falls are more common. The progression from stage 3 to stage 4 brings about significant changes. At this point, you will experience great difficulty standing without a walker or assistive device. Reactions and muscle movements also slow significantly.

Living alone can be unsafe, possibly dangerous. In this most advanced stage, severe symptoms make around-the-clock assistance a necessity.

It will be difficult to stand, if not impossible. A wheelchair will likely be required. These complications of the disease can begin in the later stages. It causes people to develop difficulties with reasoning, thinking, and problem solving. Over time, this can lead to dramatic changes, symptoms, and complications. Risk factors for the condition include:. Instead, a doctor will focus on treating other symptoms.

Sometimes medications used for other types of dementia can be helpful. Learn more about signs and symptoms of this type of dementia and how it can be diagnosed.