Surveys have shown that the public has a rather poor recognition of the early symptoms of PD. More than half of the patients miss the best opportunity for treatment as they don’t seek medical service in time. Medical experts indicate that for PD, effective cure can only be guaranteed on condition of early detection and treatment. How can we recognize the early symptoms of PD? Close attention should be paid to the following symptoms, if any.

1. Hyposmia
Many people think that blunt olfaction is normal for old age. However, more and more evidence is now showing that hyposmia is a signal of early stage of PD. If the old people have hyposmia without a good reason, they are advised to go to see the doctor at neurology department of a normal hospital.

2. Hands Tremble
Lots of old people suffer from hands tremble, which is not necessarily related to PD but the initial symptom of the majority of PD patients and apparent when there is no body movement and lessens or stops with body movement. Therefore, if the elderly in your family has hands tremble, we suggest you take him/her to neurology department for a timely and accurate diagnosis.

3. Muscle Rigidity
Some PD patients have muscle rigidity or tension as the early symptom. Sometimes the patient usually describes it as cramp or spasm, to which neither the patient nor his/her family members attach importance. In that case, treatment is thus delayed as they take the disease for cervical spondylosis or osteoporosis.

4. Slow Motion
In daily life, some old people take more time to tie and untie their shoestrings, use chopsticks, fasten and unfasten their buttons, or even have difficulty in finishing any of these. Others may find it difficult stepping out or stopping, and can only walk in small steps. Their family members believe that slow motion is inevitable for old people. As a matter of fact, the above-mentioned symptoms are pretty common for PD patients, so timely diagnosis is advised.

5. Other Symptoms
For some patients, early symptoms such as repeated watering, constipation, somnipathy and depression are also likely to occur. The propability of PD shouldn’t be neglected.