Wellbeing Note · 4 min read

Parkinson's: the early signs families notice first

A tremor at rest, slower movements, stiffness. Sometimes a lost sense of smell years earlier. It isn't a normal part of ageing, and treatment helps

The Pushpa team · 4 sources

Pushpa notes38

Small changes, over months

A tremor in one hand at rest
Moving more slowly
Stiff arms or legs
Lost her sense of smell

Small changes

Parkinson's comes on slowly. The NHS says symptoms usually develop gradually and are mild at first, which is why families often notice them before the person does. It usually begins around 60, MedlinePlus says, and is more common in men. The WHO counted over 8.5 million people with it worldwide in 2019, double the number of 25 years earlier

The three main signs

Tremor: shaking, often starting in one hand or arm, usually when it's at rest
Slowness of movement: everyday tasks take longer, steps get shorter
Stiffness: muscles feel tight, which can make movements harder or painful

Earlier, quieter signs

Loss of the sense of smell, which the NHS says sometimes comes several years before other symptoms
Constipation
Problems sleeping
Low mood or depression

8.5M

people worldwide were living with Parkinson's in 2019, double the number 25 years earlier (WHO)

Not just “getting old”

The WHO counts the belief that Parkinson's is a normal part of ageing as one of the myths that keeps people from care. There's no cure, but treatment can reduce the main symptoms, and medicines sometimes help dramatically, MedlinePlus says. The NHS notes most people with Parkinson's now have a normal or near-normal life expectancy. If you notice these signs, ask her doctor about a referral to a neurologist

How Pushpa helpsPushpa talks with her every evening, so small changes, like mentioning a shaky hand or feeling slower, are noted over weeks and shared with the family, not lost between visits