A condition that affects thousands of people, Parkinson’s disease, can be detected decades before diagnosis. This progressive neurological disorder causes problems in the brain and worsens over time.
According to 2023 data, approximately 153,000 individuals in the UK are living with it. However, the longer it takes to diagnose the condition, the more significantly it can impact a person’s quality of life.
While tremors, shaking, stiffness, and muscle cramps are well-known symptoms, there are many others to look out for, some of which may appear years before a diagnosis. Recent research has found a connection between a Parkinson’s disease gene and changes in speech.
The study revealed that the voices of those who would later develop Parkinson’s often became soft and monotonous before many other symptoms appeared. These changes often occurred much earlier – even decades – before any motor-related issues.
Neuroscientists in Julie E Miller’s lab at the University of Arizona conducted the study, examining zebra finch birds whose brains organise speech and language similarly to humans. They discovered that a Parkinson’s gene affected the birds’ song production, reports Surrey Live.
Birds with the gene sang less after two months, and they began their song sessions singing less three months after receiving the gene. Their vocalisations were also softer and shorter – findings similar to what is seen in Parkinson’s disease.
In a separate study, other researchers have developed an automated screening method that can identify Parkinson’s patients and healthy individuals with up to 90% accuracy based on their voices. However, this is not the only symptom apart from the three main motor problems.
According to Parkinson’s UK, there are many other symptoms that do not affect movement, including mental health issues, memory problems, and pain. The charity lists non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s as pain, fatigue, low blood pressure, restless legs, bladder and bowel problems, skin and sweating issues, sleep disturbances, eating, swallowing and saliva control difficulties, speech and communication problems, eye problems, foot care concerns, mouth and dental issues, and mental health problems.
Mental health symptoms of Parkinson’s include mild memory and thinking problems, anxiety, dementia, depression, hallucinations, and delusions. The NHS explains that Parkinson’s disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra, leading to a reduction in a chemical called dopamine in the brain.
Dopamine plays a crucial role in regulating body movement, and its reduction is responsible for many Parkinson’s symptoms. The exact cause of nerve cell loss remains unclear, but most experts believe it’s due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Most individuals with Parkinson’s begin to show symptoms when they’re over 50, though some experience them under 40. Men are slightly more likely to develop Parkinson’s than women.
While there’s no cure for Parkinson’s at present, treatments can help manage symptoms and maintain quality of life. As the condition progresses, symptoms can worsen, making daily activities increasingly challenging without assistance, according to the NHS.
Many respond well to treatment and only experience mild to moderate disability, while a minority may not respond as well and can become severely disabled over time. Parkinson’s doesn’t directly cause death, but it can strain the body and make some people more susceptible to serious and life-threatening infections.
However, with advances in treatment, most people with Parkinson’s now have a normal or near-normal life expectancy.