The four primary symptoms that most patients experience are: tremor of the hand, arms, legs, jaw or face, bradykinesia, or slowness of movement, rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and/or trunk and postural instability or impaired balance and coordination. Parkinson ’s Disease is subtle and occurs gradually for most people, while in some the disease is more progressive. As the disease progresses more symptoms will begin to interfere with daily activities, leaving patients unable to control movement normally.
Other common symptoms may include pain, dementia or confusion, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, constipation, cognitive changes, fear or anxiety, and urinary problems. These symptoms can vary from person to person.
While some patients may become severely disabled, others experience mild motor disruptions. Your neurologist cannot predict symptoms or the intensity of symptoms that will affect individual patients. Like many neurological disorders the cause of Parkinson’s Disease is not known. However, many experts think that the disease is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, which may vary from person to person. Researchers and scientists are working to uncover the possible causes, treatments and possible cures for Parkinson’s Disease or major symptoms.