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Real members of MyParkinsonsTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member asked a question 💭
Adrian, MI

I have had some of these non motor symptoms as far back as I can remember ‘

November 14, 2025
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A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

Hi,Great question. I've been wondering about this very thing. When I think back, I have have fought depression for years....I can remember a bout of dysphagia going all the way back to elementary school...my digestive system has always been a bit of a pain in the....neck...there's more, but that's for another email.So yes, I have wondered it too...    Terry

November 14, 2025
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

Sherjo & Terry, I have wondered the same thing. When I was young I remember trying to race other kids and there were times when I was supposed to start that I felt like I was in quicksand and it was hard to get going. I have had stomach issues since 4th grade. Very interesting

November 14, 2025
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

My grandfather had pd so I think I was born with it but waited till my 40s to show which was centra benign tremors

November 14, 2025
A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

Sherjo, I, too, have felt like this waking nightmare has been brewing for at least 37 years.

November 17, 2025
MyParkinsonsTeam

Could you have been born with Parkinson's, given your early nonmotor symptoms?

It's understandable to wonder about this, especially when symptoms seem to have been present for as long as you can remember. While Parkinson's itself isn't typically present from birth, research shows that nonmotor symptoms can appear years or Show Full Answer

Could you have been born with Parkinson's, given your early nonmotor symptoms?

It's understandable to wonder about this, especially when symptoms seem to have been present for as long as you can remember. While Parkinson's itself isn't typically present from birth, research shows that nonmotor symptoms can appear years or even decades before motor symptoms develop.

Early nonmotor symptoms that can precede a Parkinson's diagnosis include:
- Loss of smell
- Sleep problems (especially REM sleep behavior disorder)
- Depression
- Constipation

Some MyParkinsonsTeam members have traced their symptoms back many years before diagnosis. One member shared, "I can trace symptoms back to 2005," while another noted losing their sense of smell six years before being diagnosed.

In rare cases, juvenile-onset Parkinson's can develop before age 20 and tends to run in families. However, this is extremely rare.

About 10-15% of Parkinson's cases are considered familial, meaning they're directly caused by genetic variants inherited from parents. Certain genes may make some people more susceptible to developing Parkinson's when combined with environmental factors.

It's worth discussing your long-standing symptoms and family medical history with your doctor, as this information can provide valuable context for your care.

November 14, 2025

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