Show 1490: Could It Be Parkinson’s? Symptoms People Often Miss

Neurological conditions have been increasing over the past several decades, but none more quickly than Parkinson disease. What is this disorder, and what is driving the increase? We’ll discuss symptoms people often miss and find out about treatments.

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How You Can Listen

You could listen through your local public radio station or get the live stream at 7 am EST on Saturday, October 10, 2026, through your computer or smart phone (wvtf.org).  Here is a link so you can find which stations carry our broadcast. If you can’t listen to the broadcast, you may wish to hear the podcast later. You can subscribe through your favorite podcast provider, download the mp3 using the link at the bottom of the page, or listen to the stream on this post starting on Oct. 12, 2026.

What Is Parkinson Disease?

This movement disorder is named after the doctor who first described it in a publication in 1817. As we mentioned, it has become more common in recent years, so you may not be surprised to learn of numerous celebrities who have or have had Parkinson disease (PD). Michael J. Fox may be one of the best known because he has worked so hard to gain recognition that PD can affect people in their 30s and 40s. Of course, like most degenerative conditions, it is more common as people age. Parkinson disease is characterized by a relative lack of dopamine. The areas of the brain that would normally produce this crucial neurotransmitter stop making it, for reasons that are not completely understood.

What Dopamine Does

We need dopamine for proper functioning with regard to movement, mood, sleep, attention and memory. This explains why some people with PD may experience cognitive challenges or depression. The FDA approved levodopa (AKA L-dopa) in 1970. It is still a mainstay of treatment for Parkinson disease, often with carbidopa. This therapy is more helpful for movement symptoms than for the other aspects of Parkinson disease, however.

Symptoms People Often Miss

In the past, it wasn’t possible to tell how much dopamine the brain might be making. A person might sea