Parkinson’s is a complex neurological disorder that can affect almost every part of the body, ranging from how you move to how you feel to how you think and process.
Parkinson’s affects everyone differently, so how you choose to live well will be personal and may change over time.
But a positive outlook, staying engaged, exercising regularly, and taking action are steps everyone can take to live well today.

Parkinson’s is a brain disorder linked to the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells (neurons) deep inside the brain.

Parkinson’s is both chronic (long-lasting) and progressive, meaning symptoms will change and worsen over time.

Because Parkinson’s is a chronic condition, your symptoms and available treatment options will change over time. Everyone’s experience with Parkinson’s is different, which can make anticipating the progression of symptoms frustrating.
To best understand what to expect from symptoms, read our Every Victory Counts® manual for living well.
The important thing is to make a commitment to start. Stop waiting and start moving. Your goal isn’t simply to accept Parkinson’s. Your goal is to live well.
Parkinson’s is officially classified as a movement disorder because it involves damage to the areas of the brain, nerves, and muscles that control the speed, quality, and ease of movement. While motor symptoms like tremor, stiffness, and slowness are often the most visible signs, non-motor symptoms — such as mood changes, sleep problems, and cognitive challenges — can have an even greater impact on your quality of life.
Parkinson’s is a complex condition that causes a wide range of symptoms, which may begin years before diagnosis and change as the disease progresses. These can include:
No two people experience Parkinson’s in the same way, and not everyone will have the same symptoms or progression. Symptoms can also combine in ways that feel overwhelming — for example, poor sleep may worsen fatigue and intensify mood changes like anxiety or apathy.
Being informed about the range of possible symptoms can help you and your family take meaningful action to live well today.
Just because something is listed as a symptom of Parkinson’s doesn’t mean you will experience it.
Pre-motor symptoms are early non-motor symptoms that can develop years — sometimes decades — before the classic motor symptoms of Parkinson’s appear. Researchers hope understanding these early signs will lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Examples include:
Motor symptoms result from the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells that help regulate movement. These symptoms can vary in severity and progression:
Non-motor symptoms can impact quality of life significantly and often appear before or alongside motor symptoms.
Examples include:
The causes of Parkinson’s are still unknown, but researchers believe a unique mix of genetics, environment, lifestyle, and other factors contributes for each person. Some cases may involve family history, while others may be linked to environmental exposures or head trauma.
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A Parkinson’s diagnosis requires you have two out of three primary motor symptoms:
To support the diagnosis, your healthcare provider will also look for other symptoms:
Symptoms like shoulder pain, depression, sleep issues, constipation, and loss of smell can appear long before motor symptoms, but are often subtle and overlooked until after diagnosis. Many people look back and recognize these early signs only in hindsight, sometimes after seeking other treatments like physical therapy or surgery.
Unlike many conditions diagnosed through advanced tests, Parkinson’s is diagnosed through your medical history and a simple exam. Tests like blood work, brain scans, or DaTscan may help rule out other causes or support the diagnosis, but they don’t confirm Parkinson’s on their own.
YOPD shares many of the same motor symptoms as typical Parkinson’s, but there are some key differences:
Living with YOPD often brings unique life-stage challenges. Many people are still working, raising children, or caring for aging parents. This can make managing Parkinson’s and prioritizing self-care especially difficult. Women may also face added complexity related to hormonal changes and menstrual cycles.
Because of these factors, people with YOPD may face tough decisions about their careers and finances earlier than expected, adding emotional and practical stress to their diagnosis.
Research and personal experiences of people living with Parkinson’s continue to show incredible impacts through simple lifestyle changes including stress reduction, getting enough sleep, a healthy diet and exercise. Follow the links below to learn more about these simple changes and get started on your path to living well.