Parkinson's disease - Symptoms of Parkinson's disease

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease usually develop gradually and are mild at first.

There are many different symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease, but the order in which these develop and their severity is different for each individual with the condition.

Some of the more common symptoms are described below, although it is unlikely that a person with Parkinson's disease would experience all or most of these.

Main symptoms

The three main symptoms of Parkinson's disease affect physical movement:

tremor – uncontrollable shaking, which usually begins in the hand or arm and is more likely to occur when the limb is at rest
slowness of movement (bradykinesia) – where physical movements are much slower than normal, which can make everyday tasks difficult and can result in a distinctive slow, shuffling walk with very small steps
muscles stiffness (rigidity) – stiffness and tension in the muscles, which can make it difficult to move around and make facial expressions and can result in painful muscle cramps (dystonia)

These main symptoms are sometimes referred to by doctors as 'Parkinsonism'.

Other symptoms

Parkinson's disease can also cause a range of other physical and mental symptoms.

Physical symptoms

balance problems, which can make someone with the condition more likely to have a fall and injure themselves
loss of sense of smell (anosmia), which sometimes occurs several years before other symptoms develop
nerve pain, which can cause unpleasant sensations such as burning, coldness or numbness
problems with urination, such as having to get up frequently during the night to urinate or urinary incontinence (the unintentional passing of urine)
constipation
erectile dysfunction in men – an inability to obtain or sustain an erection
sexual dysfunction in women – difficulty becoming sexually aroused and achieving an orgasm
dizziness, blurred vision or fainting when moving from a sitting or lying position to a standing one, caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure
excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), which can lead to malnutrition and dehydration
excessive production of saliva (drooling)

Mental symptoms

depression and anxiety
problems sleeping (insomnia), which can result in excessive sleepiness during the day
mild cognitive impairment – slight memory problems and problems with activities that require planning and organisation
dementia – a group of symptoms including more severe memory problems, personality changes, visual hallucinations (seeing things that are not there) and delusions (believing things that are not true)

When to seek medical advice

See your GP if you are concerned that you may have symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Your GP will ask about your symptoms and your medical history to help them decide whether it's necessary to refer you to a specialist for further tests.

Read more about diagnosing Parkinson's disease.