Neurologist says women should watch for 12 signs of Parkinson's

Neurologist says women should watch for 12 signs of Parkinson'sMany people know tremors can be a sign of Parkinson's Disease, but there are other symptoms and they differ for womenCommentsNewsNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)10:12, 18 Apr 2026View 4 ImagesLow mood and depression could be linked to Parkinson's DiseaseA neurologist says men and women need to be looking for different red flag signs of Parkinson's Disease as the symptoms can vary. Parkinson's disease is a neurological condition that affects the brain's ability to produce dopamine, a chemical essential for controlling movement. It is a progressive condition, meaning symptoms gradually worsen over time as the brain becomes increasingly damaged.‌Approximately 166,000 people in the UK are currently diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but by 2030 this figure is expected to reach 173,000 as the population grows and ages.‌Neurologist Dr Kit Wu said: “Parkinson’s disease can present differently in women compared with men. Motor symptoms such as tremor, stiffness, and slowness occur in both, but women are more likely to have tremor as an early feature, while men more often develop gait and balance problems earlier.‌View 4 ImagesThe illness is linked to difficulty in moving and controlling muscles“Women frequently experience more non-motor symptoms, including pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and constipation. Cognitively, women tend to have a lower risk of early dementia, but emotional symptoms and reduced quality of life related to non-motor features can be more prominent.”‌Early warning signs in women could include:Motor symptoms, such as:A mild tremor in one handStiffnessSlowness of movementReduced arm swing when walkingChanges in handwriting becoming smaller or less fluidUnexplained shoulder or neck painNon-motor symptoms can occur insidiously and may precede motor symptoms by a number of years; these include:Loss of smellConstipationPoor sleepAnxiety...