Every hour, two people in the UK are told they have Parkinson's disease - a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over the course of many years.
Parkinson's is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the brain, leading to a reduction in the chemical dopamine, which plays a vital role in regulating our body movements. It's not known exactly what causes this to happen, and there is no cure, although treatments are available to help manage the main symptoms.
There are over 40 symptoms of Parkinson's, ranging from a tremor or stiffness to problems with sleep and mental health, and the signs can be different for everyone according to leading charity Parkinson's UK. It is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world, the charity says, with around 145,000 people currently living with it across the UK.
READ MORE: Symptoms of Lyme disease after warning rare condition is on the rise in UK
Several famous faces have been diagnosed with Parkinson's, including Billy Connolly, Muhammad Ali, Ozzy Osbourne and Michael J. Fox. Most people with Parkinson's start to develop symptoms when they're over 50, although some people with the condition first experience symptoms when they're under 40, and men are slightly more likely to get it than women.
The three main symptoms of Parkinson's disease according to the NHS are:
- Tremor – shaking, which usually begins in the hand or arm and is more likely to occur when the limb is relaxed and resting
- Slowness of movement – physical movements are much slower than normal, which can make everyday tasks difficult and result in a distinctive slow, shuffling walk with very small steps
- Muscle stiffness – stiffness and tension in the muscles, which can make it difficult to move around and make facial expressions, and can result in painful muscle cramps
However, it can also present as a range of other physical and mental symptoms. A common one is loss of smell, with up to 95% of people experiencing this to some degree, according to Parkinson's UK - it can be one of the earliest symptoms, with people often reporting it "several years" before they have any difficulties with movement.
Here is the full list of other Parkinson's symptoms from the NHS:
Constipation
Balance problems – these can make someone with the condition more likely to have a fall and injure themselves
-
Nerve pain – can cause unpleasant sensations, such as burning, coldness or numbness
- Problems with peeing – such as having to get up frequently during the night to pee or unintentionally peeing (urinary incontinence)
-
Erectile dysfunction - an inability to obtain or sustain an erection in men
- Sexual dysfunction - difficulty becoming sexually aroused and achieving an orgasm in women
- Dizziness, blurred vision or fainting when moving from a sitting or lying position to a standing one – caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure
- Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
- Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) – this can lead to malnutrition and dehydration
- Drooling or excessive production of saliva
- Problems sleeping (insomnia) – this can result in excessive sleepiness during the day
- Depression and anxiety
- Mild cognitive impairment – slight memory problems and problems with activities that require planning and organisation
- Dementia – a group of symptoms, including more severe memory problems, personality changes, seeing things that are not there (visual hallucinations) and believing things that are not true (delusions).
You should speak to your GP if you're concerned that you may have symptoms of Parkinson's disease. They will ask about your symptoms and your medical history to help them decide whether it's necessary to refer you to a specialist for further tests.
READ NEXT:
