Early symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on February 05, 2025
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Parkinson's disease in its early stages may primarily manifest as clumsiness in limb movement, especially in fine motor skills, such as difficulty in wrapping dumplings, rolling dumpling wrappers, or slow buttoning, which are clinical signs of early symptoms. Some patients may initially experience slight trembling in the limbs, which is generally more pronounced during rest and relaxation and diminishes during activity. Additionally, some individuals with early Parkinson's disease primarily exhibit non-motor symptoms, such as constipation, depression, reduced sense of smell, and may also experience rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, characterized by shouting and physical actions like punching or kicking during sleep.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What foods should be eaten for Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease does not have any specific dietary restrictions, but the following aspects are recommended for patients: First, patients should consume more laxative vegetables and fruits, such as spinach, bananas, and celery, which help maintain the motility of the large intestine and promote bowel movements. Since many Parkinson's patients suffer from constipation, these foods can greatly improve their bowel movements and are recommended. Second, Parkinson's patients can also eat foods that nourish brain cells, such as pine nuts, walnuts, and pistachios. Third, patients may consume some plant oils, mainly olive oil, which can also play a good regulatory role. Fourth, Parkinson's patients should be cautious about the timing of protein intake in relation to their medication schedule, to avoid affecting the absorption of the medication.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What tests are done for Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the nervous system. Many patients report that numerous examinations did not identify a clear cause of the disease, which is typical of this condition due to the lack of very effective diagnostic methods. Patients' symptoms gradually worsen, manifesting as motor slowness, limb tremors, muscle rigidity, and other clinical signs. There are also symptoms such as constipation and dizziness. Generally, the following examinations are recommended for Parkinson's disease: First, complete a cranial MRI scan. The primary purpose of a cranial MRI is to exclude other causes of Parkinson's-like symptoms, such as cerebral thrombosis, brain tumors, or inflammation. Second, perform olfactory tests, as some patients may experience a significant reduction in their sense of smell early on. Third, conduct induced sleep monitoring, since some patients may have prominent sleep disorders. Additionally, it is suggested to perform striatal dopaminergic transporter imaging, a type of DAT scan. Although this scan is quite expensive, it can clearly reflect the function of the striatum.

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Written by Zhang Hui
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Causes of Parkinson's Disease

The cause of Parkinson's disease is mainly due to a part of the brain called the brainstem, which has some black moles and clusters containing a large number of neurons that can produce dopamine. The death of these neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, caused by various factors, leads to Parkinson's disease. This results in noticeable slowness of movement in the limbs, muscle rigidity, as well as tremors, and unstable walking and other clinical manifestations. The causes of the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra include genetic factors. Additionally, age is the biggest cause of the disease. Furthermore, dysfunctions in mitochondrial function, ischemia and hypoxia in the midbrain, certain traumas, and the use of drugs that deplete dopamine can all potentially cause Parkinson's disease.

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Neurology
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What is needed to diagnose Parkinson's disease?

The definitive diagnosis of Parkinson's disease primarily relies on the patient's medical history, clinical manifestations, and a thorough physical examination by a neurologist. If the onset of the disease is very slow, presenting with symptoms such as bradykinesia and tremors, and the neurologist observes heightened muscle tone and slow movements during the examination, a high suspicion of this disease is warranted. Additionally, certain auxiliary tests are necessary, commonly including: First, testing the patient's sense of smell is crucial, as a reduced sense of smell is very important in diagnosing Parkinson's disease. Second, some brain MRI scans are needed mainly to exclude some secondary Parkinson's syndromes. Third, a brain PET-CT scan can be performed to examine the functionality of the striatum. Furthermore, an ultrasound of the substantia nigra in the midbrain can also be conducted, which holds significant value in assisting the diagnosis.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What department to see for Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a very common degenerative neurological disorder in neurology, so if you go for treatment, you should definitely see a neurologist. Many neurologists have a high level of expertise in Parkinson's disease and have extensive experience in its diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment. Patients with Parkinson's disease generally exhibit significant motor slowness, such as dressing, buttoning, wrapping dumplings, and eating very slowly, and they also walk very slowly. In addition, they may also display obvious resting tremors, muscle rigidity, general fatigue, unstable walking posture, and other clinical manifestations. Moreover, they might experience some constipation, anxiety, depression, and reduced sense of smell among other related clinical symptoms. Therefore, for this disease, visiting a neurologist is sufficient, and you can definitely expect a very satisfactory diagnosis and treatment.