Parkinson’s disease: Spotted this change in your writing? It could be an early sign

Parkinson’s disease is a very sad and debilitating disease which encompasses parts of the brain becoming progressively worse over the years. The condition leads to a significant drop in a chemical known as dopamine in the brain, which dictates the movement of the body. As a result, people with Parkinson’s disease tend to experience a number of symptoms related to movement including a person’s handwriting.

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If a person notices a sudden change in the size of their handwriting it may be an early sign of the progressive disease.

People with Parkinson’s disease have a difficult time controlling movement due to the major changes taking place in their brain.

This can make fine motor skills including writing more difficult and an obvious change is visible.

If a person notices a sudden change in the size of their handwriting it may be an early sign of the progressive disease.

People with Parkinson’s disease have a difficult time controlling movement due to the major changes taking place in their brain.

This can make fine motor skills including writing more difficult and an obvious change is visible.

Handwriting may also be affected by another warning sign of Parkinson’s which includes tremors.

A slight twitching or shaking of a finger is common which will affect the way they write.

The person experiencing the tremor is likely to be the only person who can notice it.

The tremor will cause shaking and will worsen and become more noticeable to others, however, as the condition progresses.

A tremor may be more noticeable when at rest.

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Parkinson’s Foundation said: “Handwriting can change as you age, especially if you have stiff hands or fingers, from arthritis or another condition, or if you have poor vision.

“However, small, cramped handwriting – called micrographia – is characteristic of Parkinson’s and is frequently one of the early symptoms.

“In addition to words being generally small and crowded together, the size of handwriting might get smaller as you continue to write.

“Micrographia is caused by the same processes in the brain that lead to other movement symptoms of the disease.

“In addition, those symptoms – slowness of movement, tremor, rigidity – can all make it harder to write.”

Treatment

The NHS said: “There’s currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but treatments are available to help relieve the symptoms and maintain your quality of life.

“These treatments include supportive therapies, such as physiotherapy, medication or surgery.

“You may not need any treatment during the early stages of Parkinson’s disease as symptoms are usually mild.

“But you may need regular appointments with your specialist so your condition can be monitored.”

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