Tremors are a typical symptom of Parkinson's.
However, there are also less clear early warning signals that can indicate the disease.
Hundreds of thousands suffer from Parkinson's disease (also called shaking paralysis) in Germany.
It is one of the so-called neurodegenerative diseases and, like dementia, can announce itself years in advance.
Nervous system disease gradually kills brain cells that produce dopamine and are responsible for movement.
A typical and also visible symptom of Parkinson's is trembling of hands and feet at rest.
However, the disease can already make itself felt through less clear early warning signals that have nothing to do with motor skills - years before a diagnosis is made.
Parkinson's disease can announce itself years in advance with less clear symptoms
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In Parkinson's disease, brain cells responsible for movement die.
© Mark Hunt/IMAGO
The nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other using certain messenger substances.
Normally, dopamine supports the nerve cells in ensuring that muscle movements and motor functions work properly.
In the case of Parkinson's, however, when brain cells responsible for the production of dopamine die off, the nerve cells can no longer coordinate movement sequences properly.
Patients with Parkinson's have increasingly limited mobility.
If the typical symptoms such as tremors occur, then the disease has progressed so far that the affected nerve cells are largely switched off.
Parkinson's makes itself felt gradually and can occur years before with certain early warning signals.
Since these usually have nothing to do with motor skills and are less clear, they are often not associated with the disease.
The following early symptoms could be an indication of the disease:
sleep disorders
Digestive problems such as constipation
Impaired sense of smell and taste (can be tested with oregano)
Excessive muscle tension
erectile dysfunction
Altered handwriting
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Parkinson's: Doctors can diagnose skin samples
If Parkinson's is suspected, doctors can use a skin sample to determine whether the patient is actually suffering from shaking paralysis.
A diagnosis can be made at an early stage of the disease by detecting specific protein deposits in the nerve endings of the skin.
On average, those affected are 60 years old at the time of diagnosis.
Similar to Parkinson's disease, other diseases can announce themselves well in advance.
The harbingers of a stroke, for example, can appear ten years in advance.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.
Rubric list image: © Mark Hunt/IMAGO
