Are you so desperate that you refuse to acknowledge dementia? Parkinson's is frosting on the cake.
Dementia
Symptoms
The symptoms include:
Cognitive and sensory changes:
- Memory loss, generally noticed by the near and dear ones
- Difficulty in communication, especially finding the right words to communicate
- Reduced ability to organize, plan, reason, or solve problems
- Difficulty handling complex tasks
- Confusion and disorientation
- Difficulty with coordination and motor functions
- Loss of or Reduced visual perception
- Metallic taste in mouth, decreased sense of smell
- Agnosia - unable to identify objects or persons
Psychological changes:
- Changes in personality and behavior
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Mood swings
- Agitation
- Apathy - lack of interest or emotions
Parkinson's symptoms may include:
- Tremor. Rhythmic shaking, called tremor, usually begins in a limb, often your hand or fingers. You may rub your thumb and forefinger back and forth. This is known as a pill-rolling tremor. Your hand may tremble when it's at rest. The shaking may decrease when you are performing tasks.
- Slowed movement, known as bradykinesia. Over time, Parkinson's disease may slow your movement, making simple tasks difficult and time-consuming. Your steps may become shorter when you walk. It may be difficult to get out of a chair. You may drag or shuffle your feet as you try to walk.
- Rigid muscles. Muscle stiffness may occur in any part of your body. The stiff muscles can be painful and limit your range of motion.
- Impaired posture and balance. Your posture may become stooped. Or you may fall or have balance problems as a result of Parkinson's disease.
- Loss of automatic movements. You may have a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you walk.
- Speech changes. You may speak softly or quickly, slur, or hesitate before talking. Your speech may be more of a monotone rather than have the usual speech patterns.
- Writing changes. It may become hard to write, and your writing may appear small.
