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Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

Parkinson's disease itself doesn't affect only movement. It does affect other functions as well and can develop cognitive issues which might be the cause of memory symptoms. However cognitive dysfunction is a late manifestation, it does not appear in the first year of the disease. So other possibilities must be considered.

First of all it should be established whether there is indeed a memory issue. At times people might think there are memory issues, but they perform well on tests, which indicates that there is no real memory impairment but might be lack of attention. Issues like anxiety and depression might be a contributing factor as they affect attention and hence make retaining information altered.

If it is indeed proven there is impairment of memory or other cognitive areas on tests, then since you say to be in early stages, other causing factors might be considered, the fact you have Parkinson's doesn't mean you can't have other conditions as well. So brain imaging is required to exclude other possible causes like stroke, tumor etc. Also some blood tests to look for other issues like thyroid dysfunction, vitamin B12 deficiencies and some other routine tests will probably be required.

Also the possibility of other conditions which might present with Parkinson like symptoms and dementia must be considered like Dementia with Lewy bodies, a condition which associates dementia with Parkinson symptoms. It usually is associated with hallucinations though and presents with many fluctuations of the cognitive symptoms.

I remain at your disposal for further questions.

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Detailed Answer:
Thank you for that additional info.

You do present additional data which might indicate this not being a classic Parkinson's disease (PD) case. Apart from the memory issues, now there are falls, which again are not a common early manifestation of PD. They are a manifestation but not early ones, their appearance already in the first few words is a red flag for the possibility of other parkinsonian syndromes (conditions presenting with parkinson like symptoms, but not actually PD). Speech difficulty is not typical as well, more common in parkinsonian syndrome like corticobasal degeneration.

So I recommend the diagnosis is reconsidered. Brain imaging at least with MRI is necessary if not done already. Apart from that the basis of distinction is the clinical exam. Movement disorders (which include parkinson syndromes) are an area of neurology where there are few diagnostic tests (making it the most difficult area perhaps), the diagnosis relies on the physical exam with its subtleties distinguishing one syndrome from the other.
This distinction is not easy, requires experience, so the least would be to be evaluated by an experienced neurologist. Even more ideal than that would be if it was a neurologist specialized in movement disorders. So my recommendation is to be evaluated by such a specialist, whether now or after the memory clinic.

I hope things work out for the best

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Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Hello again!

Anxiety can cause all sorts of different symptoms, can mimic anything, swallowing problems included, BUT it is considered as a cause only when other causes have been excluded.

Swallowing issues can be related to many different neurological conditions. It can be a sign of Parkinson's as well, but again not early stages. Brain lesions such as stroke, tumors etc also can have such manifestations. Peripheral nervous system issues also like myasthenia gravis, motor neuron disease etc also can be included in the differential diagnosis. So one does not evaluate it apart but only related to other exam findings.

I had assumed you were been given a Parkinson diagnosis by how you started your initial query, but now, while going back into our conversation I notice that you are not that clear whether it was a doctor diagnosing Parkinson's or whether it was only your self diagnosis. Remember that a Parkinson diagnosis is only done in the presence of the cardinal signs like tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia (movement slowing). These signs can be noticed only through a physical exam, and if not at least two of them are found by a physician a diagnosis of Parkinson can not be made. So I have to repeat my previous recommendation to make a neurologist appointment and a brain MRI to be scheduled. If memory tests are fine, there are no neurological signs on physical exam and MRI is normal then anxiety can well be considered as a cause.

Wishing you good health.

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