While the three cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor, are key to the diagnosis of the condition, there is evidence that non-motor symptoms start long before motor features arise. Two of these in particular, REM sleep behaviour disorder and olfactory dysfunction, have been strongly associated with the development of PD. Non-motor symptoms are increasingly recognised as main features of PD with a high impact on quality of life. Their progression has been shown to be independent of motor deterioration. Sleep, GI and attention/memory problems become more prevalent over time, whereas psychiatric and cardiovascular problems become less prevalent.