Tremors, fatigue are early signs of Parkinson’s

Lucknow: Elderly people who enact their dreams during sleep or experience slow physical movements and stiff joints resembling arthritis may be showing prodromal (early, non-specific) symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, experts said.

Early signs of the disease also include stiffness, tremors and poor balance. However, many people fail to recognise these warning signals in time, leading to progression of the disorder.

This was highlighted by experts on the eve of World Parkinson’s Day, a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, primarily affecting people over 60.

KGMU’s former head of neurology department, Prof Ravindra Kumar Garg, said: “The ‘acting out dreams’ is a condition known as Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep Behaviour Disorder, which can appear years before the onset of typical symptoms. Over 65% of individuals with this disorder eventually develop Parkinson’s.”

He said timely diagnosis can help in management.

“The non-motor symptoms such as constipation, fatigue, fullness and subtle changes in walking or speech, if they happen collectively, were also found to be associated with early symptoms,” he added.

Director, neurology, ApolloMedics Hospital, Lucknow, Dr Praveen Sharma, said: “Acting out dream is non-specific sign or a symptom occurring between the first recognition of illness and the onset of acute, severe symptoms like tremors, muscle rigidity, slow movement and balance issues, which worsen over time.”

He added that patients often report shoulder or joint pain and seek treatment for arthritis. “There is a possibility that the pain is due to rigidity associated with Parkinson’s,” he said.

Senior director, neurology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Lucknow, Dr Abhishek Srivastava, said there is no guaranteed way to prevent Parkinson’s disease, but maintaining a balanced lifestyle, regular exercise and a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables may help.

Limiting exposure to toxins like pesticides and heavy metals, along with managing stress and undergoing regular health check-ups, may also reduce risk, he added.