Alzheimer's disease concept, Elderly woman holding brain symbol of missing jigsaw puzzle, World Alzheimer's, World mental health, Memory loss, Dementia, Parkinson disease.
Understanding Parkinson’s: Early Signs, Diagnosis, and Impact on Families
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Asia Tabb
Alzheimer's disease concept, Elderly woman holding brain symbol of missing jigsaw puzzle, World Alzheimer's, World mental health, Memory loss, Dementia, Parkinson disease.
Aired; August 6, 2025
Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.
Parkinson’s disease is often misunderstood and frequently misdiagnosed, especially in its early stages. On a recent episode of The Spark, I spoke with Dr. Rebecca Gilbert, Chief Mission Officer at the American Parkinson Disease Association, about the complexities of this neurodegenerative disease and why early awareness is so critical. “It’s really such an important message that we want to give over today — what is Parkinson’s disease?” said Dr. Gilbert. “It’s a brain disorder… and certain cells in the brain die. We don’t exactly know why, but something goes wrong.”
Parkinson’s is known for causing tremors, stiffness, slowness of movement, and difficulties with walking. But many early symptoms are far less obvious. “The first symptoms could be so subtle — someone may not swing their arm on one side, or they may have trouble whisking an egg or getting their arm into a coat,” Dr. Gilbert explained. “People may brush these off as arthritis or just aging.”
Other early signs are even more unexpected. Dr. Gilbert noted that some of the earliest symptoms are “non-motor,” including sleep issues, mood changes, and even constipation. “Sometimes the earliest symptoms are so not tied to something someone would think is a brain disorder… like constipation,” she said. “Only in retrospect do people realize they’ve had Parkinson’s symptoms for years.”
Diagnosing Parkinson’s is complicated and often delayed. Since the symptoms vary so widely, patients may visit multiple specialists before a correct diagnosis is made. “Somebody might go to an orthopedist thinking they have a frozen shoulder, but then a tremor starts,” Dr. Gilbert shared. “Eventually, someone connects the dots — but it can take time.”
This diagnostic delay underscores the importance of awareness, both in the general public and in the medical community.
When asked about causes, Dr. Gilbert emphasized that Parkinson’s is like many other chronic diseases: a result of both genetics and environment. “Even if no one else in your family had it, that doesn’t mean it’s not genetic,” she said. “You could have a specific mutation interacting with your environment in a way that didn’t affect anyone else in your family.”
While a small number of cases are linked to specific gene mutations, most diagnoses remain a complex interplay of unknown factors.
Parkinson’s doesn’t just affect individuals — it affects entire families and communities. “This is most definitely a disorder of the community,” Dr. Gilbert said. “Anyone who cares about someone with Parkinson’s is impacted.”
As the disease progresses, even if slowly, caregivers take on more responsibility. The emotional and logistical burden can be significant, and resources for both patients and families are critical.
Although Parkinson’s is considered a disease of aging, it can impact younger people — sometimes as early as their 20s or 30s. “The average age of diagnosis is around 60, but about 10% of people are diagnosed before age 50,” Dr. Gilbert noted. “That’s what we call Young Onset Parkinson’s.”
This reinforces the need for doctors not to dismiss early signs based on age alone — and for the public to be aware that Parkinson’s can look very different from person to person.
To learn more or get support, visit the American Parkinson Disease Association’s website.
