Many people know that tremors can be a symptom of Parkinson’s disease, but there are other symptoms that manifest differently in women. The neurologist points out that men and women should watch for different warning signs, because the symptoms of the disease may differ.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disease that affects the brain’s ability to produce dopamine, a chemical necessary to control movement. It is a progressive disease, meaning that symptoms get worse over time as the brain becomes more and more damaged. Around 166,000 people are currently diagnosed in the UK, but this number is expected to rise to 173,000 by 2030 due to an aging population.
Neurologist Kit Wu said that Parkinson’s disease it can manifest differently in women than in men. Although motor symptoms such as tremors, stiffness and slowness occur in both sexes, in women it is more likely that tras will be a timely signwhile in men they develop earlier problems with walking and balance.
Women are more likely to experience more non-motor symptoms, which include: pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and constipation. In terms of cognitive function, women tend to have lower risk of early onset of dementia, but emotional symptoms tend to be more pronounced and reduced quality of life associated with non-motor manifestations.
Early warning signs in women include motor symptoms such as mild tremor of one hand, stiffness, slowness of movement, reduced arm swing when walking, changes in handwritingwhich becomes smaller or less fluent, or inexplicable shoulder and neck pain. In addition, non-motor symptoms may appear subtly, sometimes preceding movement problems by years. They mainly belong here loss of smell, constipation, poor quality sleep, anxiety, low mood and persistent fatigue.
If these symptoms are progressive, unilateral, or affecting daily activities, a neurological examination is recommended. Dr. Wu adds that women typically develop the disease two to three years later than men, with the average age of diagnosis in women being in the late 50s to the 60s.
The onset of Parkinson’s disease often coincides with menopause in women, which can lead to early symptoms being subtle and easily misinterpreted. For example, a mild tremor may be mistaken for anxiety or stress, while poor sleep, fatigue, or cognitive “fog” are often mistaken for menopausal changes or signs of aging. As a result, Parkinson’s disease in women is recognized and diagnosed later than in men.
