Weed and feed herbicide applications, over-fertilizing, weed trimmer damage, and excessive watering or mulch up against the stems and roots of the plant could all affect it negatively. Another possibility is lethal yellowing which can affect screwpine. Lethal yellowing is fatal with no realistic treatment. I would cut off the bad leaves and fertilize it lightly with palm fertilizer if it has not been fertilized to see if it makes a comeback. A spray with a fungicide like Daconil also might be useful.
Foliage is distinctive, often large, and either fan or feather shaped.
Try to choose self-pruning palms that drop their leaves without pruning. Avoid planting palms in open lawn areas where the weed trimmer can wound them. The palms cannot heal wounds and are subject to fatal fungal diseases if wounded. Q. My father has Christmas palms . The fronds start turning brown , die back and eventually only the stump is left.