Two early parkinson’s symptoms were discovered. They are not obvious

Parkinson’s disease destroys the cells in the brain that control movement. Hence, among others trembling, stiffness, slowness. It is not entirely clear why this is so. It is known, however, that the disease develops over the years and cannot be reversed, but only relieve symptoms. Parkinson’s is difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages. A recent discovery could change that. There are two early symptoms and therefore risk factors for this ailment.

1. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition where the nerve cells that control movement are destroyed in the brain
2. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disease – symptoms appear gradually and slowly get worse
3. It is not known exactly what triggers Parkinson’s disease. Ways to prevent Parkinson’s disease also remain a mystery. So far, no way has been found that could reverse its effects
4. Parkinson’s is difficult to diagnose because there is no screening test for it and symptoms vary from person to person and are non-specific
5. However, researchers found two early symptoms that could lead to Parkinson’s disease in the future. This is hearing loss and epilepsy
6. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Parkinson’s disease doesn’t just affect movement. What is happening to the patient?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system. In it, the brain cells that control movement (motor skills) are degraded. Hence symptoms such as involuntary muscle contractions (tremors), muscle stiffness or slowing down of movement. In fact, Parkinson’s disease doesn’t just affect movement. Patients may also experience disturbances in the sense of smell, sleep, constipation, fatigue, pain (especially in the extremities), dizziness, anxiety and depression.

The disease develops slowly over the years. Early symptoms can be mild and imperceptible, sometimes it begins with a barely noticeable tremor in one hand. It is not known exactly what triggers Parkinson’s disease. Scientists suspect it’s a combination of genetic, environmental (such as head injuries) and lifestyle factors.

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Ways to prevent Parkinson’s disease also remain a mystery. So far, no way has been found that could reverse its effects. Treatment of parkinson’s is largely symptomatic. While it may be comforting to know that Parkinson’s is life-changing, it is not life-threatening on its own (although the complications can be serious). Moreover, as Parkinson’s Fundation notes, it is possible with Parkinson’s disease to have a good or excellent quality of life. The key is to diagnose as early as possible and to adhere to the prescribed therapies. Unfortunately, parkinson’s is difficult to diagnose because there is no screening test for it, and symptoms vary from person to person and are non-specific. A discovery by scientists from Queen Mary University of London may help change the situation.

Two new early symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease

Researchers identified two early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (a paper on this appeared in JAMA Neurology). The newly discovered features, along with other symptoms observed in the years leading up to diagnosis, can help diagnose and treat the disease at an earlier stage. These symptoms include hearing loss and epilepsy. How did scholars find this trace?

1. What is happening in the brain of a Parkinson’s disease patient?

The team analyzed the medical records of more than one million people who lived in East London between 1990 and 2018 (the site was chosen because of its very ethnically diverse population). They found that neither ethnicity nor socioeconomic status were associated with the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. They also found that epilepsy was associated with a higher risk of developing the disease (this supports the 2016 suggestions; case reports state that Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy may coexist).

Another finding of the study was hearing loss that occurred up to five years before the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. “This is an interesting observation because it was first seen with parkinson’s,” notes Michigan Institute for Neurological Disorders neurologist Aaron L. Ellenbogen. “Further exploration is really crucial to understanding if this is more than just observation and if there really is some hidden mechanism that connects the two.”

New dependencies in the known symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

The study authors agree that more research is needed on hearing loss and its relationship to Parkinson’s disease, but suggests that it is part of the sensory processing impairment that occurs in parkinson’s.

In addition to new potential risk factors, the researchers also found dependencies in the already known symptoms of the disease. It was found that the tremor appeared up to 10 years before the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Memory problems, which were the most commonly reported non-motor symptoms related to parkinson’s, may have appeared up to five years before diagnosis.

The disease has also been linked to other comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes. “Parkinson’s disease, although many consider it a brain disorder, really affects many systems throughout the body,” notes Dr. Ellenbogen. «It is not only about the motor aspects, but also the gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems, sleep, cognitive functions. I think people often forget that ». The neurologist also emphasizes that “a symptom or risk factor of Parkinson’s disease does not definitely mean that the disease will occur”. Nevertheless, the results of this study give hope to identify a group of people at high risk of developing parkinson’s and treat them as early as possible.

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