Early discovery of Parkinson's could lead to earlier diagnosis

A new study released today could help earlier diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, after Newcastle University researchers identified that even early in the disease, people experience symptoms.

While movement - motor problems - are the main symptom of Parkinson's disease, non-motor problems such as drooling, anxiety and bowel problems affect a large number of patients and begin sooner than previously thought.

Earlier diagnosis could lead to earlier treatment and therefore allow patients to have a better quality of life.

In the study, published in the journal Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, researchers from Newcastle University compared 159 people with newly-diagnosed Parkinson's disease to 99 people of similar ages who did not have the disease.

Participants were asked whether they experienced any of the 30 non-motor symptoms screened for, including sexual problems, sleep problems and gastrointestinal problems.

Study author Dr Tien K Khoo, said, ''Often people don't even mention these symptoms to their doctors, and doctors don't ask about them, yet many times they can be treated effectively.''