These Early Signs of Parkinson’s in Women Can Be Mistaken for Menopause

Thanks in large part to Michael J. Fox and other advocates, awareness and understanding of Parkinson’s disease have grown significantly in recent years. However, there’s still more to learn, especially about how the condition affects women. If you’re wondering about the early signs of Parkinson’s in women and how our responses to treatment may differ, here’s everything you need to know.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition that affects movement and speech, often causing tremors and difficulty with balance and coordination that worsens over time. The disease can also impact non-motor functions like sleep, mood and cognitive abilities.

“In PD, an abnormal protein begins to accumulate in brain cells that produce dopamine, causing them to die sooner than they should,” explainsSneha Mantri, MD, MS, FAAN, chief medical officer of the Parkinson’s Foundation. “This is the case for both men and women.” Here, she shares common risk factors:

• Pesticide exposure
• Head injury
• Sedentary lifestyle (less than 150 minutes per week of moderate or vigorous physical activity)
• Genetic factors (The Parkinson’s Foundation has found that genetics contribute to 10 to 15 percent of PD cases)

6 early signs of Parkinson’s disease in women

About 1 in 100 women will develop PD in her lifetime, according to Dr. Mantri, and many of the early symptoms can be misattributed. For example, early signs of Parkinson’s like walking more slowly, stiffness or changes in handwriting are often mistaken for normal aging. Others may be dismissed as menopause symptoms. Here, a few early warning signs of Parkinson’s disease in women to watch for:

• REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD): This classic early symptom—acting out dreams—can even start years before any other PD symptoms develop, explains Dr. Mantri.
• Constipation: Constipation is commonly associated with PD, but might be overlooked or thought to be due to menopause, she says.
• Anxiety or depression:These mood changes can be symptoms of early-stage Parkinson’s disease, but are often mistaken for menopause-related hormonal shifts in women.
• Slowness of movement: A noticeable slowdown in walking pace can be an early indicator of PD, though it’s sometimes dismissed as a normal part of getting older.
• Stiffness: Muscle stiffness or rigidity, particularly in the limbs, may signal early Parkinson’s disease, but is often attributed to arthritis or age-related changes.
• Changes in handwriting: Handwriting that has become noticeably smaller or more cramped could be an early symptom in people with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease affects women differently than men

“Symptoms vary a lot from person to person, including from woman to woman,” says Dr. Mantri. “In patient-reported outcome questionnaires, women tend to report more non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, like depression and anxiety, but it’s not clear whether this is truly a difference in symptom burden or a difference in reporting.” In other words, whether men are under-reporting these symptoms.

What is clear is that women tend to develop complications of drug therapies, like dyskinesias (involuntary movements) and motor fluctuations, sooner than men, she adds. “This might be related to hormonal differences, differences in body weight and tissue distribution or other factors that are still unknown. That’s why any therapy must be individualized to the needs of the person with PD.”

Women face treatment gaps—but change is coming

Women tend to experience more diagnostic delay, in part due to the misattributions of early signs of Parkinson’s mentioned above. “For women with young-onset PD in particular—those experiencing physical symptoms before the age of 50—the impact of the menstrual cycle on PD symptoms and variability of medication effects is often under-recognized and under-treated,” explains Dr. Mantri.

“We also know that women are less likely to be referred for advanced therapies such as deep brain stimulation, and even when they are referred and approved, they’re less likely to actually undergo the surgery,” she adds. “While these decisions are intensely personal and individual, the widening gender gap in therapeutic outcomes between men and women also suggests a structural difference in the way healthcare is experienced.”

The good news? There is hope on the horizon when it comes to closing this disparity, she notes. “Women-specific support groups, as well as research on the impacts of different therapies on women, would make us more aware of the needs of the millions of women living with PD worldwide.”

The bottom line on early signs of Parkinson’s in women

If you’re experiencing any symptoms that could signal Parkinson’s disease, talk to your doctor about getting evaluated. Early diagnosis and personalized treatment can make a real difference in managing PD and maintaining your quality of life.

Ready for more inspiration?Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond

Copyright 2026 A360 Media

This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 11:30 AM.