10 Early PD Warning Signs

No objective PD test exists. PD is more common in people age 60 years old or older.

Talk to your doctor if you have two or more of the following symptoms:

1. Tremor – Have you noticed a slight shaking in your finger, thumb, hand or chin? A tremor while at rest is a common early sign of PD.

2. Small Handwriting – Has your handwriting gotten much smaller than it was in the past? A change in handwriting may be a sign of PD.

3. Loss of Smell – Have you noticed you no longer smell certain foods very well? If you seem to have more trouble smelling foods like bananas, dill pickles or licorice, you should ask your doctor about PD.

4. Trouble Sleeping – Do you thrash around in bed or act out dreams when you are asleep? Sudden movement during sleep may be a sign of PD.

5. Trouble Moving or Walking – Do you feel stiff in your body, arms or legs? Sometimes stiffness goes away as you move. If it doesn’t, it can be a sign of PD. People sometimes say their feet seem stuck to the floor.

6. Constipation – Do you have trouble moving your bowels without straining every day?

7. A Soft or Low Voice – Have other people told you that your voice is very soft or that you sound hoarse?

8. Masked Face – Have you been told that you have a serious, depressed or mad look on your face, even when you are not in a bad mood? This is called facial masking.

9. Dizziness or Fainting – Do you notice that you often feel dizzy when you stand up? Feeling dizzy or fainting can be linked to PD.

10. Stooping or Hunching Over

– Are you not standing as upright as you used to? Stooping, leaning or slouching when you stand may be a sign of PD.

Early detection helps because it provides a better opportunity to learn how to manage symptoms and maybe even slow progression.