Parkinsons Disease
In recent years, Parkinson’s has gained much publicity through the likes of Muhammad Ali, Michael J Fox and more recently, Bob Hoskins, but how much do we really know about the condition apart from the fact it can cause shaking hands? Just how much do we really know about the extent to which it can affect our lifestyle and that of those around us?
New research from Parkinson’s UK shows that awareness and understanding of the condition is low, despite the fact that one person in every 500 has Parkinson's. That's about 127,000 people in the UK and what’s more, every hour, someone in the UK is told that they have Parkinson’s.
While the cause itself still remains unknown, what is clear is the devastating effect the condition can have. Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition and most people who have Parkinson's are aged 50 or over, but younger people can still get it too. In fact, one in 20 of those with the condition are under the age of 40.
To combat these misconceptions, Parkinson’s UK is launching a new awareness drive across the country. The powerful campaign uses cleverly reworked images of six everyday tasks that are incredibly difficult for those affected by Parkinson’s, including making a cup of tea and tying a tie. The images of each activity have been mixed up to create a disjointed visual puzzle that bring to life the way the brain mixes up messages in Parkinson’s sufferers.
So if you’re keen to find out more or are in need of some advice, log on to our live and interactive WebTV Show where Steve Ford, CEO of Parkinson’s UK will talk you through Parkinson’s, the symptoms, the warning signs and how to manage the condition as much as possible. He will also be joined by Lucy Norman, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at just 38 years old – who shares her experience of how the condition has affected her life.
Show date: Monday 10th December
Show time: 2pm
Tagged in Bob Hoskins Muhammad Ali Health Michael J. Fox