My friend's father, who is about 75 years old, is currently visiting his son. The father is from Asia. For last few days he has been going through what he describes as "balance" problems. He can't walk slow, whenever he needs to move he sort of shuffles very fast to his destination. Sometimes he bends backwards involuntarily. At times he moves from side to side as though he is going to fall off his chair. He does not realize that he has these problems. In addition, he has a very very short memory, but it seems like his long term memory is very good. Are these signs and symptoms related to parkinsonism? If anybody out there can relate to such problems, please make suggestions as to what we can expect to see in future. He was taken to a doctor who gave him medication for vertigo--didn't help much. Thank you. Mamoon, [log in to unmask]