Parkinson's Disease: How to Recognize The First Symptoms?

What is Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder. It is characterized by the gradual disappearance of certain neurons in the brain: dopamine neurons. As a result of the disease, the production of dopamine (a molecule that allows neurons to communicate with each other, especially present in a region of the brain essential for controlling movements) decreases, which results in impaired motor functions.



“Far from being a pathology only reserved for the elderly, Parkinson's disease is, on average, diagnosed at the age of 58,” says David Schick, an experienced neurologist from New York. “We also observe early forms, which can appear between the ages of 30 and 40”.

 

What are the risk factors?

While the causes of Parkinson's disease are not yet precisely known, researchers, including Schick, are looking for genetic (15% to 25% of cases are familial) and environmental factors - pesticides, heavy metals, etc.

 

What are the first symptoms of Parkinson's disease?

According to Schick, the first symptoms of Parkinson's disease occur between 5 and 10 years after the onset of the pathology. Motor symptoms, on the other hand, do not appear until 50% to 70% of dopamine neurons are destroyed.

The first symptoms of Parkinson's disease are usually non-motor:

·        A constipation that does not "pass"

·        Sleep disorders (chronic insomnia affects 50% of patients)

·        Depression (one third of patients with Parkinson's disease have been diagnosed with depression)

·        A loss of smell

·        Intense fatigue (with difficulty supporting an effort)

·        Difficulty concentrating

·        Musculo-tendon pain (in the back, for example) and / or in the joints (rheumatism, for example in the hips).


Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease

The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, which is made by a neurologist, such as David Schick, is based on a clinical examination of 3 main criteria:

·        Muscle rigidity: The patient feels tense, suffers from cramps, has the sensation of being constantly "rusty". The standing posture (at rest) is tense, hunched forward, head bowed.

·       Slowness of movements (akinesia): The movements are slower, the patient only walks slowly. This symptom worsens with the progression of the disease,

·       Tremors at rest: They are only observed in 64% of patients and mainly concern the hands (fingers, wrists, etc.), more rarely the feet. They are usually one-sided - on one side. The patient finds it difficult to perform fine daily movements: buttoning a shirt, tying their laces, etc.

Based on his in depth researches, David Schick also indicates that micrographs can also be seen (the patient's handwriting gets smaller and smaller. This is one of the characteristic symptoms of Parkinson's disease), joint disorders (dysarthria), falls more frequent (and / or balance disorders) as well as swallowing difficulties (50% of patients have difficulty swallowing).

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