'I'm a neurologist - these symptoms can appear years before a Parkinson's diagnosis'

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Non-motor warning signs can emerge years before more typical Parkinson's symptoms

Long before the telltale tremor sets in, Parkinson's disease may make itself known through a series of subtle, easily dismissed symptoms.

In fact, neurologist and chief mission officer at the American Parkinson's Disease Association, Dr Rebecca Gilbert, notes that non-motor warning signs can emerge years ahead of the condition's more recognisable movement-related effects.

"There are lesser-known non-motor symptoms that can occur many years before those motor symptoms appear," Dr Gilbert told GB News.

"These early symptoms include constipation, loss of smell, depression, and certain sleep disorders."

These indicators, she noted, frequently go unrecognised precisely because they seem so ordinary. Yet for many patients, such complaints were present well before a formal diagnosis was ever made.

"These early PD symptoms are also common in the general population, so having these symptoms does not mean that a person will definitely develop PD," she pointed out.

Constipation alone affects millions of Britons for entirely unrelated reasons, and diminished sense of smell might be chalked up to ageing or allergies. Depression, too, is widespread enough that its potential link to a neurological condition rarely crosses anyone's mind.

Nevertheless, the pattern is telling, says Dr Gilbert. She noted: "We do know that people who have PD will often report that they had these symptoms before they were diagnosed."

"If you're experiencing a new or unexplained symptom, it is always wise to bring it to your doctor's attention."

The neurologist was also keen to dispel several persistent myths surrounding the condition. The notion that Parkinson's is exclusively an ailment of the elderly is simply wrong.

Around one in ten diagnoses are made in individuals aged 50 or under — a group classified as having young-onset Parkinson's disease.

"Many people assume that it is specifically an 'old person's disease' — this is not true," she said. The APDA runs dedicated programmes and support networks for this younger cohort.

Equally misleading is the belief that a tremor is a prerequisite for diagnosis, as the disease manifests differently from person to person.

"Not everyone with Parkinson's has a tremor!" Dr Gilbert stressed.

Conversely, a tremor does not automatically signal Parkinson's. Conditions such as essential tremor can produce shaking without ever progressing to the disease.

Given the evidence that early symptoms can precede motor difficulties by years, the case for broader screening and swifter referral pathways is compelling. Dr Gilbert endorsed this view without hesitation.

"Yes!" she said when asked whether wider screening was warranted.

"A Parkinson's diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but you're not alone, and you don't have to figure everything out at once."

She urged those newly diagnosed to prioritise learning about their condition as a vital first step.

Earlier recognition of these overlooked symptoms could open the door to timelier intervention and better outcomes.