Article written by
Kelly Crumrin

There are five commonly recognized stages of Parkinson’s. Neurologists stage Parkinson’s based on the way the condition typically progresses. However, symptoms of Parkinson’s vary by the type of parkinsonism and between individuals. An individual with Parkinson’s will not necessarily experience all or even most symptoms and may not experience them at the same stage in which others experience them. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, which means that symptoms worsen gradually over time, new symptoms appear, and disability accumulates.

Assessing the stage of Parkinson’s helps anticipate disabilities and plan accordingly for care.

The five stages of Parkinson’s

The stages of Parkinson’s are based on the Hoehn and Yahr scale introduced in 1967. The Hoehn and Yahr staging system focuses on disability caused by motor symptoms such as bradykinesia (slowed movements), tremor, and loss of balance. Some neurologists also use a newer scale called the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The UPDRS scale takes into account changes in mood, cognitive function such as thinking and remembering, and social behavior.

Stage One

Motor symptoms occur on one side of the body only. There is minimal or no disability.

Stage Two

Motor symptoms worsen and begin to affect both sides of the body. There may be difficulty walking and changes in posture, facial expression, and voice. Daily activities become harder and take longer.

Stage Three

In the middle stage of Parkinson’s, loss of balance becomes apparent and falls are more common. Motor symptoms make it difficult to eat, dress, and perform self-care, but the person is still capable of living alone.

Stage Four

At stage four, the person is no longer able to live alone. Disability is severe, and the person requires help with many daily tasks. They may or may not be able to stand and walk without assistance. Many people begin using walkers at this stage.

Stage Five

During stage five, the person cannot rise from a chair or bed without help. Motor symptoms include stumbling and freezing. They may lose the ability to stand or walk, and a wheelchair becomes necessary. Assistance is required around the clock for all activities. Some people begin to experience psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions.

Another view of Parkinson’s progression

A newer theory of Parkinson’s progression called Braak's hypothesis suggests that Parkinson’s may begin years before motor symptoms develop. According to Braak’s hypothesis, loss of smell and digestive symptoms such as constipation are the earliest signs of Parkinson’s, showing up many years before motor issues. While these early symptoms do not show up on an official Parkinson’s stage yet, many researchers are working on ways to identify and treat Parkinson’s earlier, even before stage one.

Resources

External resources

• Stages of Parkinson’s – Parkinson’s Foundation
• What Are the Stages of Parkinson’s Disease? – ParkinsonsDisease.net

MyParkinsonsTeam resources

• What stage were you in when you started to have balance issues? (Q+A)
• The Stages of Parkinson’s Disease Progression in Parkinson’s disease that are defined in stages. (Q+A)
• Information about stages of Parkinson's. (Q+A)
• End-stage of Parkinson help (Q+A)

Kelly leads the creation of content that educates and empowers people with chronic illnesses. Learn more about her here.