One of the biggest problems in diagnosing Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases is the commonality of symptoms with a variety of diseases - including age related decline in function. I'm a retired Acute Care NP and looking back I had symptoms of neurodegenerative disease for years before putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. For instance - bad dreams with some acting out of dreams was attributed to work and personal stress; slow gut with GERD and irregularity attributed to irritable bowel syndrome; being unable to smell the turkey cooking at TG and not being able to smell a pot of barbecue simmering attributed to "just getting older. I never even mentioned these problems to my PCP until I read about REM Sleep Behavior Disorder - while investigating my bad dreams. That explained my violent outbursts and hitting my husband in my sleep - ABNORMAL and indicative of future development of Parkinson's or a like disease. I also suffered from bouts of near fainting in the heat - again attributed to dehydration and advancing age. Then I started investigating the other symptoms of PD and was increasingly concerned that I fit the profile and got a referral to a neurologist with Movement Disorder training who confirmed a diagnosis of Primary Autonomic Nervous System Failure and likely early PD. On meds to treat low BP and help with gut issues - otherwise monitoring and trying to exercise regularly as recommended.