Keyword archive for: Micrograph

Microgarafia - the unknown symptom

Micrographa is a symptom of handwriting becoming smaller and more cramped. It can be an early warning sign of Parkinson's1. The words are closer together and the letters are smaller. Micrograph may also be an early symptom, preceding other motor parkinsonian symptoms by three to four years2. One study found that micrographs are present in almost half of all Parkinson's patients.

But what does micrography have to do with Parkinson's? Parkinson's is a disease that affects the nervous system and impairs the production of dopamine, a chemical in the brain that is important in controlling movement. When there is a lack of dopamine, movements become slower, stiffer and more uncontrolled. This also affects the fine motor skills and hand functions required for writing4.