Parkinson's

Can A Pen Catch Parkinson's Disease early?

Parkinson's is a underreported disease that affects as many as 10 million people worldwide.

In a small study, the "diagnostic pen" accurately recorded handwriting signals and neural network-assisted analysis successfully distinguishing PD from non-PD with a greater than 95% accuracy.

Patients with Parkinson's rarely present with textbook signs-forward stooped posture, slow and rigid movements, or shuffling gait.  Instead, the earliest indications are often vague and nonspecific, though they can be recognized as early warning signs.  Changes in handwriting are frequently one of the first signs.

There is currently no cure for PD, but early detection is very important.

Sleep disturbances are often one of the earliest symptoms.  REM sleep behavior disorder, REM, is frequently overlooked as a symptom.  Unlike insomnia or sleep maintenance issues, it is accompanied by vivid dreaming accompanied by physical movements, such as shouting, punching, or kicking during sleep, often affecting the sleep partner.

Constipation, another early symptom as PD affects the autonomic nervous system thus the motility of the bowels.  Other symptoms include loss of smell, depression, fatigue and loss of motivation.

None of these symptoms alone confirm Parkinson’s disease, as many are nonspecific or seen in other conditions. However, the presence of multiple early signs — especially the combination of REM sleep behavior disorder, olfactory loss, constipation, or family history — should prompt further evaluation. Referral should ideally be made to a neurologist specializing in movement disorders. A thorough neurologic exam, smell testing, sleep studies (polysomnography), and imaging (eg, DaT SCAN) may be warranted.

Identifying these signs early and recognizing meaningful combinations — not isolated symptoms — can help clinicians initiate earlier referral and intervention, potentially altering the disease trajectory.

Medscape’s German edition, July 2025