Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive disease most characterized by tremors and uncontrollable movements. It affects the nervous system and symptoms start slow and progress over time, leading to speech issues, mobility issues, and more. There is no cure but there are treatments like Austedo medications for PD—if you’ve been prescribed these, check out Austedo copay cards. Parkinson’s disease is something that is valuable to catch early on to begin treatment for symptom management, here’s 6 early symptoms of PD:

1. Tremor and uncontrollable movement
What may begin as a barely noticeable tremor in your finger can slowly spread to your hand, arm, and other areas of your body. The tremor will most often show up as rhythmic shaking in what’s known as the ‘pill-rolling tremor’, where your thumb and forefinger may rub together. This can occur while you’re at rest and may decrease slightly when you’re performing other tasks.

2. Bradykinesia
Bradykinesia, or slowed movements, will progressively occur in Parkinson’s patients. Simple, everyday tasks may feel more challenging and time-consuming which can be incredibly frustrating. You may notice that your strides become shorter or that you take longer to get up out of a chair—this is bradykinesia.

3. Stiff muscles
Since Parkinson’s impacts the nervous system, you may start to experience stiff or rigid muscles. The stiffness may be preceded by pain or aches, and the rigidity occurs because your muscles become unable to relax. This stiffness may represent itself as inflexible muscles, reduced facial expression, muscle cramps, and many other ways.

4. Impaired posture
As a result of stiff muscles, you may experience impaired or ‘stooped’ posture with Parkinson’s. However, impaired posture can also occur as a result of your brain not sending signals or reminders to stand up straight. It’s important to continue to remind yourself to maintain good posture, as this stooped position can cause neck and back pain, loss of flexibility, or put you off balance, subjecting you to falling.

5. Changes in writing
With slowed movements and stiff muscles, writing can become more challenging and, in turn, your writing may change. Most Parkinson’s patients find that their writing becomes small and cramped, known as micrographia. Micrographia is caused by the same brain processes that lead to the other symptomatic movement issues.

6. Automatic movements become challenging
Things that you used to not have to think about, like blinking, standing up straight, smiling, or swinging your arms while walking, will become decreased as your brain stops sending reminders for unconscious movements.