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

There are many different symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. Some of the more common symptoms are described below.

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However, the order in which these develop and their severity is different for each individual. It’s 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:

These main symptoms are sometimes referred to by doctors as parkinsonism as there can be causes other than Parkinson’s disease.

Other symptoms

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

Physical symptoms

balance problems – these can make someone with the condition more likely to have a fall and injure themselves

loss of sense of smell (anosmia) – sometimes occurs several years before other symptoms develop

nerve pain – 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 unintentionally passing urine (urinary incontinence)

constipation

an inability to obtain or sustain an erection (erectile dysfunction) in men

difficulty becoming sexually aroused and achieving an orgasm (sexual dysfunction) in women

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) – this can lead to malnutrition and dehydration

excessive production of saliva (drooling)

problems sleeping (insomnia) – this can result in excessive sleepiness during the day

Cognitive and psychiatric symptoms

depression and anxiety

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, seeing things that aren’t there (visual hallucinations) and believing things that aren’t true (delusions)

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When to seek medical advice

See your GP if you’re concerned 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.