What characterizes the clinical presentation of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disease that is more common in the elderly, with an average age of onset of about 60 years, and less common in those starting below the age of 40. The prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in people over 65 years old in China is about 1.7%. Pathologic changes are the degeneration and death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, a significant reduction in the dopamine (DA) content of the striatum, and the emergence of a series of symptoms. About 70% of patients with tremor as the first symptom, the frequency of 4 to 6 Hz “pill rubbing”, pointing bill-like, tremor began on one side of the distal upper limbs, appeared at rest or obvious, random movement to reduce or stop, nervousness exacerbated, disappeared after going to sleep. Some patients simply manifested as stiffness and rigidity of the limbs, without the symptoms of tremor. In some patients, tremor and stiffness occur alternately or simultaneously during the course of the disease. Then there is the manifestation of bradykinesia, slower movements, difficulty in starting, the range of motion will be reduced, facial expression is reduced, mask face, speaking voice monotonous low, become smaller, and slurred speech. Walking will often walk faster and faster, it is not easy to step, called panic gait, small broken step, one side of the lower limbs dragging feeling, such as starting difficulties. Some patients also have loss of sense of smell. In addition to motor symptoms such as tremor and slowness of movement, there are usually non-motor symptoms in the late stage. Mental: depression, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, hallucinations, apathy, sleep disorders Autonomic symptoms: excessive sweating, constipation, hypotension, dysuria, salivation, sexual dysfunction, etc. Sensory disorders: pain, numbness, spasticity, olfactory disturbances, restless leg syndrome.