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Home / Understand Parkinson’s / Signs and symptoms

Parkinson’s Symptoms: Motor and non-motor 

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition characterised by motor (movement) and non-motor symptoms. Here is a full list of symptoms: 

Although classified as a movement disorder, Parkinson’s can affect people in different ways. Sometimes the emotional changes can be more troublesome than the motor changes and can have a bigger impact on the day-to-day life of someone living with Parkinson’s. 

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Parkinson’s commonly leads to problems with constipation and bladder control, including urinary urgency, frequency, retention, and nocturia. 

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Many people with mid- and late-stage Parkinson’s experience low blood pressure, known as hypotension. This can be a symptom of Parkinson’s, a side effect of the medications used to treat Parkinson’s, or it may be connected to another health condition. 

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Slowness of movement (bradykinesia) and muscle stiffness (rigidity) are both typical motor symptoms of Parkinson’s.

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Impulsive and compulsive behaviours are possible side effects of some Parkinson’s medications. Only a small number of people experience these behaviours, but it can have a significant impact on the person affected and those around them.

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Cognition or cognitive function is a term used to describe the thought processes of your brain. Cognition includes judgement, reasoning, problem-solving, and memory.

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Dyskinesia is a term used to describe uncontrollable, often jerky movements that a person does not intend to make. These movements can affect the arms, legs, head, or whole body. Dystonia refers to the condition where muscles tighten involuntarily.

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Some people may find they have difficulties with eating, swallowing, and saliva control at some stage of their journey with Parkinson’s.

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It’s common for people with Parkinson’s to experience fatigue, sleep difficulties, or restless legs.

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Some people who have had Parkinson’s for a long time may experience hallucinations and/or delusions. Often hallucinations and delusions are a side effect of medication and changes in medications can be made by your GP or specialist.

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As the condition progresses, many people with Parkinson’s will experience pain at some point. However, pain affects each person differently. It may present as a feeling of tingling, numbness, stiffness, or aching. Pain can be a major issue for some people, but a relatively minor issue for others.

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People with Parkinson’s sometimes have problems with their skin, and how much or how little they sweat. Some people may only have minor issues, while others may have more severe problems that can affect daily life and cause them discomfort or embarrassment.

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Loss of sense of smell or “hyposmia” is a common but rarely noticed symptom that may occur years before the start of motor symptoms, or a diagnosis of Parkinson’s. For some people, the effects of Parkinson’s may also have an impact on their vision.

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Communicating with others is something that many people take for granted. However, Parkinson’s can cause difficulties with communication which might impact various parts of your life. 

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A tremor is a rhythmical, involuntary movement that affects a part of the body, for example the hand. Tremor is a well-known motor symptom of Parkinson’s, but not everybody with Parkinson’s will develop a tremor. A tremor can also be a symptom of conditions other than Parkinson’s.

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Slowed movement, stiff muscles and changes to posture affect all people with Parkinson’s. These issues and others can lead to challenges with walking, freezing, and falling.

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Fact sheet - Symptoms of Parkinson’s

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Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s is a personal experience but no one has to face Parkinson’s alone. Support and information can make a significant and positive difference to the lives of those living with Parkinson’s, their families and carers.

Please note: Fight Parkinson’s uses the phrase Parkinson’s rather than Parkinson’s Disease to reflect the community’s preference. Parkinson’s Disease is used only when necessary such as in medical, research or government contents, or in direct quotes.