Discovering the limits and effects of our brain can astound many of us. New scientific studies are added every day to better understand our brain and improve our quality of life. According to research conducted on Parkinson’s disease, the symptoms of this disease appear years in advance.
The most common symptom of Parkinson’s is tremors of some parts of the body, especially the hands, while at rest. However, there is no need to have tremors in the hands to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s. This symptom does not appear in 20 percent of patients.
Parkinson’s is one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide. Research predicts that 25 million 200 thousand people worldwide will suffer from this disease by 2050. As far as is known, genetic factors are effective in 10 to 15 percent of patients, but other causes have not yet been discovered. Although the symptoms of the disease can be controlled with treatments, there is no permanent cure for Parkinson’s. Researchers have made great progress in understanding the first signs of Parkinson’s in the last 20 years.
Rachel Dolhun, neurologist and medical advisor of the Michael J. Fox Parkinson Research Foundation, stated that Parkinson’s is defined as a movement disease because it affects the motor skills of patients, and said, “But there is also an aspect of Parkinson’s that is not related to movement. For a long time, we thought Parkinson was a movement disease, but now we see that this disease affects the whole body in different ways.”
SOME SYMPTOMS APPEAR YEARS AGO
To diagnose a patient with Parkinson’s, neurologists look for obvious symptoms such as slowing down, muscle stiffness, and tremors in the limbs at rest. But some symptoms that are not related to motor skills, such as constipation and loss of sense of smell, usually appear more than 10 years ago. This early stage, called the “prodromal stage”, is the first step in the gradual progression of the disease.
Prof., who conducts neurology studies at McGill University. Dr. Ronald Postuma said, “Parkinson’s is a slow disease, and we are starting to realize how slow it can be. This disease progresses in the brain for years until it reaches the threshold at which doctors can diagnose.”
Parkinson’s is a disorder that damages dopamine-producing cells in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical that transmits signals between cells and plays a critical role in controlling our movements and coordination in the brain. By the time motor symptoms appear, 50 to 70 percent of the neurons in the substantia nigra (black substance) in the brainstem, which is vital for voluntary movements, have died.
Rachel Dolhun said that it should be emphasized that not all Parkinson’s patients show these symptoms and said, “But we know that in some, these may be the earliest signs.”
THE OTHER SYMPTOM IS LOSS OF THE SENSE OF SMELL
Loss of smell, also known as anosmia, can be a temporary symptom in some colds and a permanent symptom in some types of Covid-19. But 90 percent of Parkinson’s patients lose their sense of smell in the long term. This symptom may appear decades before motor symptoms appear.
Prof. Dr. “Loss of the sense of smell, we estimate, occurs about 20 years before Parkinson’s diagnosis,” Ronald Postuma told the Washington Post, and continued:
“We know that people who lose their sense of smell have a 5 times higher risk of developing Parkinson’s in the future. People often do not realize that they have lost their ability to smell and distinguish smell because it happens so gradually.”
What exactly affects the sense of smell in Parkinson’s disease and why this is one of the early symptoms is still being studied. One of the theories on this subject is that the disease begins in the nasal bulb, where the brain manages the sense of smell. The theory suggests that abnormal proteins cause damage here, damaging neurons.
ATTENTION THOSE WHO MOVE IN THEIR SLEEP
Normally, our body becomes almost completely paralyzed during the REM sleep phase, when the most vivid dreams occur. REM sleep behavior disorder is a disorder that results in people acting out while dreaming. While dreaming, patients may sit up in bed, engage in one-sided conversations, and even slap or kick their partners. Research shows that 50 to 70 percent of people with REM sleep behavior disorder develop Parkinson’s disease or Lewy body dementia within an average of 5-10 years. People over the age of 50 who have REM sleep behavior disorders are 130 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s than their peers who do not have this problem. Experts recommend consulting a doctor if you’re moving in your sleep.
‘THOSE WHO SUFFER CONSTIPATION EVEN IN THEIR 20S MAY HAVE PARKINSON’
Constipation is a very common disorder and is generally not considered a very serious problem. However, constipation lasting several weeks or longer affects two-thirds of Parkinson’s patients. Because Parkinson’s can affect the cells in the digestive system. Studies conducted on this subject indicate that abnormal protein clusters are found in the intestines of Parkinson’s patients.
People who experience this type of constipation face twice the risk of Parkinson’s disease than those who don’t, according to an analysis of nine studies on constipation. On the other hand, according to the research conducted by following 6 thousand 790 men between the ages of 51-75 for 24 years, those who go to the toilet less than once a day have a high risk of developing Parkinson’s.
Postuma said, “Even those who suffer from constipation in their 20s or 30s are likely to develop Parkinson’s after 30-40 years. Now we started to wonder; Does Parkinson’s affect the nerves that control the intestines, or is constipation a risk factor for Parkinson’s?” he stated.
IF YOU ARE DIDICULOUS WHEN YOU STAND UP…
Postural hypotension is defined as the drop in blood pressure that occurs when a person stands up from a sitting or lying position. People suffering from this condition may experience dizziness, loss of balance and even fainting when they stand up. This disease, also called “orthostatic hypotension”, can be triggered by reasons such as dehydration, low blood sugar or overheating. However, chronic or permanent orthostatic hypotension is considered a serious condition.
Postuma pointed out that if the disease has a neurological basis, that is, if it is not due to dehydration, medication use or a heart problem, almost half of the patients have Parkinson’s or a related disease and added:
“So it is a very high risk factor. However, most people do not have a neurological cause.”
Although researchers describe orthostatic hypotension as a symptom seen in the early stages, the evidence on this subject is not as strong as the evidence for other symptoms. For example, in one study, otherwise unexplained orthostatic hypotension was associated with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s or a related condition in 18 of 79 patients (i.e., 23 percent) followed for 10 years.
Experts state that these symptoms alone are not strong enough to be a sign of Parkinson’s and that these problems may be caused by other reasons. However, if you think you have more than one symptom, you may need to see a doctor.
date:2026-02-08 09:37:00