New readers to my blog have requested some of the basics regarding the disease. So, in my well-known fashion, I offer the following “fool-proof” indicators that you’ve got Parkinson’s disease. 

1. Ask your closest friend if they know anyone with Parkinson’s disease. If they answer in the affirmative proceed to ask them if it is you.
2. Resting tremor is a strong indicator that you have Parkinson’s disease. It may also indicate you live in an earthquake-prone zone. If you are experiencing tremors while resting, check with your local news bureau whether or not it was an earthquake. If it was not an earthquake, it might be Parkinsonism.
3. Slowness of movement is a symptom of the disease. This should not be confused with driving slow. If you find you have slowness of movement in your driving, it may be time for a tune up or to re-learn your driving skills. If the slowness of movement refers to you personally, then you may want to consider reading this blog daily. If you read this blog daily you have a 67% chance of having PD. The other 33% of my readers tend to be crazy cat people.
4. If you are in the 33% group but are not a crazy cat person (i.e., someone who is obsessed with all things cat or owns at least three felines—lions, tigers, and bears included), then you may actually be mathematically challenged, for chances are you calculated wrong and really belong in the 67-perecentile group. Should you discover you were in the wrong percentile group due to a mathematical error, this is a sure indicator that you have Parkinson’s disease.
5. Physicians will check to see if you have the following three indicators present at the same time: the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, a strong hunch that you have Parkinson’s disease, and treating physicians who keep telling you it’s all in your head. When all three indicators are present, doctors generally pronounce a diagnosis of PD.
6. If you find yourself eating a free doughnut while drinking free coffee during a support group meeting for those with Parkinson’s disease, the likelihood of your having the disease is near 98%. The other 2% consist of those who will do anything to get a free doughnut with a free cup of coffee. 

While you will have to check with an expert to back up your conclusions (and it helps if the expert is in the field of medicine), don’t become worried should it turn out to be Parkinson’s disease. Medical science now has a new breakthrough treatment for the disease that will help you get through it. Known as “pills,” these things, if used correctly (as well as having the correct ones to use) can cause some of the above-mentioned symptoms to be less noticeable.

Unfortunately there is no treatment for crazy cat people or those who will do anything to get a free doughnut with a free cup of coffee. But science is working on it.