Parkison’s disease is a serious condition associated with progress neural deterioration. This damage can be measured to some degree by the presence of microscopic neuronal detritus known as Lewy bodies. However, the cause of Parkinson’s disease can come from a wide variety of environmental, genetic or age-related issues.

Tremors and shaking are the most well known symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. However, the following symptoms are also associated with the condition:

1. Tremors
A tremor in one’s limbs is among the most easily noticed symptoms. One will ideally begin Parkinson’s treatments, such as Nuplazid for Parkinson’s disease, shortly after the impairment is noticed. However, there are some issues that make this more difficult than people might expect. The largest problem is that this symptom is often quite subtle at the beginning. The shaking is also usually only present in one limb on a single side of the person’s body. This eventually spreads out to other areas. However, the fact that it starts out subtle and localized means that it’s not nearly as easy to spot as it might seem..

2. Decreased facial expression
The earlier mentioned symptom (tremors) showed how muscles can become overly excited. But we see the reverse with Parkinson’s as well. Facial expressions require far more muscle movement than most people realize. And when people develop issues with muscle control it often results in difficulty forming expressions to properly match their mood.

3. Arms don’t swing when walking
Walking may also be a deceptively complex task for Parkinson’s patients in the more advanced stages. When we walk we need to carefully move a myriad of different muscles in order to properly regulate our gait and balance. As Parkinson’s progresses we often put more emphasis on the vital parts of walking while ignoring other aspects. One of the first losses is usually the familiar movement of someone’s arms as they walk. This seldom happens all at once. Instead, we can look out for a gradual reduction in grace or movement in one’s arms while walking.

4. Rigid muscles and stiffness
Let’s take a moment to consider what happens when we flex our muscles. This puts a little strain on the muscles in an area and makes them more defined. This process can happen unconsciously as a symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Almost any muscle can experience this unconsciously created rigidity. This can often go unnoticed due to the fact that it’s not as visually dramatic as some other symptoms. However, stiffening our muscles causes a lot of strain over time. This will typically result in a more easily noticed ache or even pain after the condition has persisted for a while.

5. Slower movement and decreased mobility
Slow movement is known by the technical term bradykinesia. But no matter what we call it, the issue can pose a major problem, impacting quality of life. Think about how important it can be to react in a timely manner to environmental stimuli. For example, if you’re carrying something fragile and your hand slips you’ll need to move fast to catch it. Or think about something falling from a shelf above your head. You’ll need to move fast if you’re going to avoid being hit by it. But people suffering from Parkinson related bradykinesia find it increasingly difficult to perform that sort of swift reaction. Likewise, even their walking speed will often slow down as Parkinson’s disease progresses.