Understanding Parkinson's Disease: Symptoms, Treatments, and Support

Although Parkinson’s disease (PD) can impact people of any age, most of those living with this condition are older, as the average age of occurrence is 60. This chronic disease doesn’t go away with time, and may get worse, although drugs and other therapies in use today may help manage its symptoms. In some cases, lifestyle changes can also help those living with Parkinson’s have fulfilling and satisfying lives.

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Parkinson's is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. If you are living with Parkinson’s, or are caring for someone with the disease, you are well aware of the challenges and stresses of this complex condition. Although there is currently no cure for PD, our understanding of the condition has grown immensely over the past decades. In this guide, we look at the symptoms of this disease, as well as possible Parkinson’s disease treatments and available support for those who have PD, and the ones who care for them.

 

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological movement disorder, which means it affects the brain. As a movement disorder, it impacts your ability to manage activities of daily living (ADLs) such as walking, rising from a chair, or cooking a meal. Unfortunately, however, Parkinson’s has other symptoms — from depression to constipation — that can make normal life a challenge. 

A person with PD experiences the gradual destruction of nerve cells in several parts of the brain, including the substantia nigra, which makes a substance called dopamine. You may have heard of dopamine: it’s often called the “feel-good” hormone because when it is released it provides a sense of pleasure. But it does far more than that, and is involved in movement, memory, mood, and much more. 

Although we don’t know exactly what causes Parkinson’s disease, research suggests that a cocktail of factors may play a role, including a genetic predisposition as well as the exposure to certain substances such as pesticides and solvents. PD is diagnosed by visual clinical exams performed by a neurologist or movement disorder specialist. Imaging tests to indicate the presence of the disease are also available.

Sometimes, medical professionals diagnose Parkinson’s by exclusion: ruling out other causes for the same symptoms. A correct diagnosis is the first step in ensuring treatment has a positive impact.

Parkinson’s disease gradually impairs a person’s ability to move, walk, talk, and swallow, and it typically develops when patients are in their 50s or 60s (in roughly 5-10 percent of cases it strikes before age 50). For some people, the condition can be severely debilitating in the long term, while others are able to function relatively well even after decades of living with the disorder.

Three cardinal symptoms of PD are:

• Muscle stiffness or rigidity
• Slowness, also called bradykinesia, which may manifest when walking, blinking, or making other motions or facial expressions
• Resting tremor: an involuntary shaking when relaxed

You don’t need all three of these symptoms to be diagnosed with PD, although slowness is generally always present. Not everyone with Parkinson’s has a tremor, however. PD also has “invisible” symptoms. These may include low blood pressure, sexual problems, excessive sweating, apathy and mood disturbances, and even hallucinations. 

Almost one million people in the U.S. are living with PD, with roughly 90,000 diagnosed each year. Globally, more than 10 million live with it. For reasons not known, men are 1.5 times more likely to have PD than women. 

A 2022 study indicated that the number of new PD cases per year is 50 percent higher than previous estimates. Some research indicates that the numbers of those living with the disease will continue to rise over the coming decades as the percentage of the U.S. population over the age of 60 increases. 

Generally speaking, the first hints of the illness are usually mild, intermittent and show up on just one side of the body. Common Parkinson’s disease symptoms are:

• Shakiness from a tremor in a hand, arm or leg or in the jaw or face when the patient isn’t actively moving.
• Stiffness or rigidity of the arms, legs and torso.
• Slowness of movements (bradykinesia).

Other common signs and symptoms may include:

• Small, cramped handwriting
• A stooped posture
• Less arm-swinging than before while walking
• A blank, serious, or angry “mask-like” facial expression
• Loss of sense of smell
• Trouble sleeping
• Speaking in a low or soft voice
• Dizziness or fainting spells

Parkinson’s disease stages tend to follow a pattern. As the disorder progresses, certain problems may grow more significant, which is where the additional care and attention of an assisted living facility may be beneficial. Some of these more significant problems may include:

• Problems with balance and falling
• Walking with small, shuffling steps
• Moments of “freezing” when the patient’s feet suddenly can’t move forward
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sudden weight loss

Sudden weight loss doesn’t just indicate a potential loss of appetite. It can also point to the loss of your loved one’s inability to cook for themselves. Or, if your loved one with Parkinson’s has a caretaker other than yourself and is losing weight, it may mean that particular caretaker can no longer cook for them. If that’s the case, you might want to examine assisted living for people with Parkinson’s.

Because Parkinson’s is a movement disorder, falls are a significant concern. Falls can have all sorts of negative consequences for a senior. Even a single fall shouldn’t be dismissed. Keep in mind that your loved one may be falling more often than they’re reporting, or may be dismissing their falls as unimportant.

A diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease may seem dire, but countless people live long and satisfying lives while managing this condition. For caregivers and those living with PD, understanding what causes Parkinson’s disease symptoms is the first step toward ensuring that a loved one is safe. Fortunately, Parkinson’s disease treatments have advanced considerably in the past decade, with drugs and other therapies available to slow its advance and provide aid in ways that would once have been unimaginable.

• About Parkinson’s: Symptoms. (n.d.) The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
• New study indicates that new cases of Parkinson’s Disease are 50% higher than past estimates. (2023). American Parkinson Disease Association.
• Parkinson’s disease and dementia. (n.d.) Johns Hopkins Medicine.
• Parkinson’s disease: Cause, symptoms, and treatments. (2022). National Institute on Aging
• Statistics. (2024). Parkinson’s Foundation.
• Treatment options for Parkinson’s. (2024). American Parkinson Disease Association
• What is Parkinson’s Disease? (2024). American Parkinson Disease Association
• Willis, A.W., et al (2022). Incidence of Parkinson’s disease in North America. National Library of Medicine
• 10 early signs. (2024). Parkinson’s Foundation.

Article was expert reviewed by Cathy Braxton on 10/11/24