Six warning signs of Parkinson’s disease have been revealed after Neil Diamond opens up about living with the disease

It is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world and there is currently no cure.

However, knowing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can lead to earlier diagnosis and access to treatments that improve patients’ quality of life.

Around 18,000 Brits and 90,000 Americans are diagnosed each year, with charities estimating that one in 37 people alive today will be diagnosed in their lifetime.

Here, MailOnline reveals some of the warning signs of paralytic disease affecting celebrities such as Neil Diamond, Muhammad Ali and Billy Connolly.

Over time, symptoms gradually get worse. Experts say it can cause movement-related symptoms as well as pain, depression, and loss of smell

Shivering

Tremor or uncontrollable movement is one of the most recognizable signs of Parkinson’s disease and can be the first symptom to appear.

It usually starts in the hand before spreading to the rest of the arm, or sometimes to the foot on the same side of the body, says Parkinson’s charity UK.

Tremors are more likely to occur when the extremities are relaxed.

Although there is no cure for tremor, it can be managed with the help of a Parkinson’s disease specialist or nurse.

Parkinson’s disease results from the death of neurons in a part of the brain, called the substantia nigra, which is responsible for dopamine production.

Dopamine is a vital neurotransmitter that acts as a messenger between parts of the brain and nervous system that help control and coordinate body movements.

It is the deficiency of this chemical that causes tremor and a host of other Parkinson’s symptoms.

slow movements

Daily tasks can take much longer if you have Parkinson’s disease.

This can see everyday activities, such as paying for items in the store, doing the buttons and walking to the bus, to take up more time, says Parkinson’s UK.

Bradykinesia, medically known as bradykinesia, involves walking with short, jerky steps.

It can also lead to smaller movements — such as not smiling as widely as usual — swallowing and chewing difficulties, and a lack of coordination.

Slow motion is also caused by low levels of dopamine in the brain, which affects the way muscles work.

muscle stiffness

Muscle stiffness is another symptom of Parkinson’s disease that can slow you down.

Tension and inflexibility in the muscles can make it difficult to make facial expressions and move around.

This can lead to painful muscle spasms and balance problems.

As a result, swinging the arms, getting up from chairs, and turning over in bed may become more difficult, as well as breathing and speaking clearly.

Just as low dopamine levels can cause slow movements and tremors, it’s also thought to upset the balance between muscles extending and relaxing for each movement, leading to stiffness and stiffness, according to Parkinson’s Disease Europe.

loss of sense of smell

Loss of the sense of smell is an early warning sign of Parkinson’s disease.

These symptoms affect 95 percent of people with the condition and can begin years before any other symptoms appear, says Parkinson’s Disease UK.

But losing the sense of smell can affect people in different ways, with some losing or gaining weight as they can no longer smell food, while it can affect the mood of others.

For some, it can be subtle and only dull the scent, while others may have no sense of smell at all.

It can also lead to safety concerns, as sufferers struggle with the smell of burning, for example.

Research suggests that the symptoms are caused by a part of the brain, known as the ‘olfactory bulb’ that’s responsible for processing odors, and is smaller in some people with Parkinson’s disease, according to Parkinson’s Disease UK.

Studies have also found that this bulb is the first part of the body to see a buildup of alpha-synuclein – a protein found in dopamine-producing cells.

In Parkinson’s patients, the proteins tangle and form clumps that experts believe may spread the disease throughout the brain.

Sir Billy Connolly, 80, pictured left, was diagnosed with the disease in 2013 and retired from live shows in 2018. Singer Neil Diamond, 82, pictured right, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2018 and made the decision to stop touring

Bladder or bowel problems

Waking up at night to go to the toilet can plague people as they get older.

But it’s also another early sign of Parkinson’s disease.

Going to the bathroom more than once or twice a night — known medically as nocturia — may be a sign of illness.

Urge incontinence, the need to urinate right away and difficulty in order to ‘hold in’, may also be a symptom.

In Parkinson’s disease, the symptoms come down to dips and fluctuations in dopamine levels, as this can affect how bladder muscles and nerves work.

Loss of dopamine can also cause brain signals that tell the bladder to hold in or expel urine to malfunction, according to Parkinson’s Disease Europe.

Constipation is also a symptom of the disease, as slowness of movement and rigidity — telltale signs of the condition — can affect the muscles of the bowel wall.

depression and anxiety

Feeling very sad for a long period of time can be a sign of depression.

Depression and anxiety are common among people with Parkinson’s disease, but the cause is not fully understood, according to the NHS.

In some cases, these feelings occur months before other symptoms are detected.

Studies show that the symptoms are due to a decrease in dopamine among Parkinson’s patients, which can lead to fatigue and low mood.

Parkinson’s UK says this can lead to depression, anxiety and anxiety.

In addition, some patients may find that they are not able to socialize as much as they used to, which leads to feelings of loneliness and isolation which increases the risk of depression.

But the charity also points out that being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease itself can be very stressful, so it’s understandable that you might struggle with these feelings.