This Handwriting Change May Be An Early Sign Of Parkinson's
It is a progressive neurological disease. While there is no single, outright cure for it yet, the NHS says therapies like medication and physiotherapy can minimise its symptoms for many.
But sadly, the condition is often misdiagnosed, even though early diagnosis can be very beneficial.
That's why organisations like Parkinson's UK champion better, earlier diagnoses, and hope one day for a single test that can accurately spot the disease as soon as possible.
In the meantime, however, they've shared early signs of the condition; one of which involves changes to your handwriting.
How is handwriting linked to Parkinson's?
Parkinson's UK says that noticing smaller handwriting over time is one potential early sign.
This is called micrographia, and could affect as many as 50-60% of people living with Parkinson's, though the numbers are not settled.
'You may notice the way you write words on a page has changed, such as letter sizes are smaller and the words are crowded together,' the charity shared.
A 2022 paper suggested that the handwriting change may precede other motor symptoms of Parkinson's, like tremors.
Parkinson's is not the only cause of handwriting changes – it's been linked to other neurological changes, while Parkinson's UK says 'writing can change as you get older, if you have stiff hands or fingers or poor vision' – but it may be worth seeing your doctor about it, especially if it comes with other symptoms.
What are the other early symptoms of Parkinson's?
According to Parkinson's UK, having a single early symptom doesn't mean you've got the disorder.
But 'if you have more than one sign, you should consider making an appointment to talk to your doctor,' they wrote.
Aside from micographia, the other possible symptoms they listed were:
Tremors. Shaking in your finger, thumb, hand, or chin while at rest is a common early symptom.
Loss of smell, especially for strongly-scented foods like bananas, liquorice, and gherkins.
Moving a lot in your sleep, especially if you start acting out your dreams or thrashing around a lot.
Trouble with movement or walking. You might find your arms don't swing as much as they used to when you walk, that your limbs or stiff, that your shoulders of hips feel tight, or that your feet feel 'stuck to the floor.'
Constipation. This can be normal, but it can persist with Parkinson's.
Developing a soft, low voice that others might describe as hoarse or breathy and which might sound quieter than usual.
'Facial masking,′ or a sad or angry expression on your face that happens regardless of your mood.
Dizziness or fainting, for instance, when getting up out of a chair – this can be linked to low blood pressure, which is associated with Parkinson's.
Stooping or hunching over, especially if this is new for you.
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