Research indicates that a significant number of individuals might be living with Parkinson’s disease without realizing it, as they overlook crucial symptoms.
Parkinson’s UK has highlighted an alarming issue, suggesting that over 20,000 individuals could have undiagnosed Parkinson’s disease.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder affecting movement, and while it cannot be cured, medications can alleviate symptoms.
The charity has pointed out that a considerable backlog in the UK’s national health service, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in many people remaining undiagnosed.
They emphasize that there is now a ‘diagnosis crisis,’ with some individuals having to wait as long as five years to consult a neurologist.
A study featured in Movement Disorders Clinical Practice reveals that diagnosis rates have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, even as pandemic conditions have subsided.
The research involved data from 18 million primary care records, showing a 26 percent drop in diagnosis rates between 2019 and 2021, declining from 26,000 to 19,300.
As many await a definitive diagnosis, Victoria Baggaley, a senior helpline advisor at Parkinson’s UK, who provides support for those diagnosed with the condition, has outlined some traditional symptoms.
Among the easily unnoticed signs are:
This is a frequent occurrence among patients with Parkinson’s.
According to Baggaley, “For example, some people may struggle to smell their favorite foods, and this can start years before other symptoms develop.”
Commonly, individuals experience sleep disturbances due to associated symptoms such as stiffness, pain, and limb restlessness.
Some may also experience brief cessations of breathing during sleep.