I have a boyfriend with whom I have been together for some months. He is between 35-40 years old, and seem to be a very healthy man.

I have noticed, that his handwriting, is the worst I have ever seen. It looks like he is using his foot to write, and he seem to experience difficulties to write with a stable hand. (It is hacky, messy, terrible... ) First, I thought that he trembled, but now I am not sure anymore.

I have seen other papers he wrote a few years ago, where he wrote really beautifully (and smoothly and "normally"). For some reason, it has now changed into something completely unreadable, not smooth at all, like if he cannot neither use nor hold the pen. He really has to make an effort to write readable (and then only with capital letters) and it is like he has no balance in his hands.

What could this be due to, this sudden loss of writing abilities? If it is a matter of loss of fine-motorics, are there any other signs I could look for? (He is not at all concerned about it... but I have reacted on it, since I got scared when I first saw it.)

MaryJS - I'm not a physician but it sounds like something worth looking into. Does he have trouble doing other things with his hands like eating food with a fork or cutting food with a knife?

If there are more things like that which he has trouble with, I would consider encouraging him to see a neurologist. These types of symptoms have been associated with Parkinson's disease based upon what I've read.

I'm not trying to scare you but it sounds like this issue is significant enough to look into.

Do you see any tremors of the hands anytime?

At any rate, this is a serious symptom. With his permission, call his physician's office and tell them the problem and get an appointment for an exam.

Best wishes, :)

Please get this checked out soon, my father in law was just diagnosed with Alzheimers. He is only 58 it started with the little things that we ignored. How blessed is he that you watch him so close. Hope it works out. I hope its nothing but better safe than sorry

My handwriting has deteriorated to being nearly illegible. I have Multiple Sclerosis.

I am not sure if he trembles or not... but I have noticed that he also is clumsy when it comes to things like tie something (like shoes).

I will talk to him. Currently, I am not with him, but when I will see him again in a few months, I will encourage him to search a doc...

Simoneaugie: Was your handwriting also one of the early symptoms or yours? Or how did you discover you had it?

This is not something that needs to wait a few months, also sometimes the person doing this does not see it, You need to push to get him to the doctor

He could also have had some sort of mini stroke as well as the Alzheimer's as pointed out above. Could also be some sort of nerve damage as well. Definitely have him get this checked out. It could be something they can halt in it's tracks or reverse if not too much time has gone by.