The neurodegenerative disease has an extensive list of over 40 symptoms, which often go unnoticed for some time before diagnosis.
The lead singer of hit 1980s band A-ha, Morten Harket has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The Norwegian group informed fans of the news via an update on their website that said he had been “battling his own body”.
An interview with the 65-year-old was also posted on the band’s website, where he revealed he had kept the diagnosis quiet for a period of time before making the announcement. He says he has come to terms with his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
In conversation with the band’s biographer Jan Omdahl, he said: “I’ve got no problem accepting the diagnosis. With time I’ve taken to heart my 94-year-old father’s attitude to the way the organism gradually surrenders: ‘I use whatever works.’
“Part of me wanted to reveal it. Like I said, acknowledging the diagnosis wasn’t a problem for me; it’s my need for peace and quiet to work that has been stopping me. I’m trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline.
“It’s a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects. There’s so much to weigh up when you’re emulating the masterful way the body handles every complex movement, or social matters and invitations, or day-to-day life in general.”
But as the star makes headlines, questions are being raised on the complicated condition of Parkinson’s, its causes, and its symptoms.
With over 40 symptoms, the condition can manifest in a variety of ways, and many remain unaware of some of the lesser-known early signs of Parkinson’s. So, here’s everything you need to know about the neurodegenerative disease.
What is Parkinson’s and how common is it?
Around 13,000 people in Scotland alone have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, which is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world.
Parkinson’s develops when brain cells that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter which plays a crucial role in motor control, stop working.
As a progressive condition, Parkinson’s can significantly impact quality of life and can reduce life expectancy. However, with treatment, the likelihood of it shortening a patient’s lifespan can be reduced.
What are the early symptoms of Parkinson’s?
As a degenerative disease, catching Parkinson’s early can make all the difference in terms of treatment and maintaining a good quality of life. But as there are over 40 official symptoms, many early signs can be easily overlooked.
Better known symptoms of the disease include tremors in the hands and pain in the body, but there are other signs of the condition that many remain unaware of.
For example, changes in handwriting can indicate cognitive decline, as can diminished facial expressions, caused by slow or stiff facial muscles.
This can cause friends and family to struggle to read the person’s mood from their facial expressions, and is an early indicator that something is wrong.
Depression and anxiety, while not exclusively linked to Parkinson’s, are also early indicators of the condition that are easily brushed off.
A change or loss to sense of smell is another lesser-known symptom of the disease that can manifest early.
Here is a full list of ten early signs of Parkinson’s to keep an eye out for, as shared by HCA Healthcare UK.
10 early signs of Parkinson’s
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Trouble with balance
- Stiffness
- Losing your sense of smell
- Trouble with sleeping and fatigue
- Tremor
- Depression
- Smaller handwriting and slowness of movement
- Diminished facial expressions
