What is Parkinson’s?
Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with motor symptoms (slow movement, tremor, rigidity, walking and imbalance) and a wide variety of non-motor complications (cognitive impairment, mental health disorders, sleep disorders and pain and other sensory disturbances). Motor impairments, such as dyskinesias (involuntary movements) and dystonias (painful involuntary muscle contractions) contribute to limitations in speech, mobility and restrictions in many life areas.
Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson’s in the UK. And it’s the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.
Today, 10 million people around the world are living with Parkinson’s, by 2033 that number will double. Incidence of Parkinson’s disease increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with PD are diagnosed before age 50 with men 1.5 times more likely to have Parkinson’s disease than women.
How does parkinson’s develop?
Most people with Parkinson's start to develop symptoms when they're over 50, although around 1 in 20 people with the condition first experience symptoms when they're under 40. Men are slightly more likely to get Parkinson's disease than women. (NHS England)
How does Parkinson’s (PD) develop?
Parkinson’s disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain called the substantia nigra. This leads to a reduction in a chemical called dopamine in the brain. Dopamine plays a vital role in regulating the movement of the body. Most people with Parkinson’s start to develop symptoms when they are over 50, although around 1 in 20 people with the condition first experience symptoms when they are under 40.
What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s?
There are thought to be around 40 different symptoms, with each person diagnosed with Parkinson’s experiencing their own unique combination of symptoms including tremor, muscle rigidity, slowness of movement, chronic pain, sleep disturbance, constipation, anxiety, depression, memory concerns to name a few. This makes treating the condition difficult, but not impossible.
Is there a cure for Parkinson’s, what about medication?
Parkinson’s is currently treated with medications that boost the levels of dopamine in the brain. The most common of these treatments is called levodopa. These medications temporarily remove the symptoms of the condition, allowing people to live relatively normal lives however, over time, these therapies lose their potency as the underlying condition continues to progress. We urgently need a cure for Parkinson’s – a treatment that will slow, stop or reverse the loss of dopamine neurons.
Our understanding of Parkinson’s is increasing all the time and new discoveries about the science behind Parkinson’s are taking us closer to finding the cure. Researchers are working tirelessly with major efforts being directed at key biochemical pathways that have been revealed by Parkinson’s research. Thanks to our supporters, we’re funding some of the most promising work.
Cure Parkinson’s
Cure Parkinson’s are here for the cure. Everything we do is to move us closer to our goal, of finding new treatments to slow, stop or reverse the progression of Parkinson’s. Your donations and your involvement in research will lead to the breakthrough we all want to see.
Curing Parkinson’s needs world-class collaborative science involving researchers, clinicians, the pharmaceutical industry and, most importantly, people who are living with Parkinson’s. This collaboration is at the heart of our research programme. Our leadership and funding enables the world’s leading neuroscientists and neurologists to prioritise, together, the next generation of drugs for clinical trial.
Parkinson’s UK
Our strategy is more ambitious than ever, building on previous successes. People affected by Parkinson's are at the centre of everything we do. Developing the strategy was a joint effort, with input from over 600 people affected by Parkinson’s. We’ve also analysed our services and research. We reached out to health professionals, donors and many more.
We are focusing on the 3 areas that matter most to people with Parkinson's:
Accelerating breakthroughs in research
Better support, every day
Getting Parkinson’s understood
Working together over the next 5 years, we want to have the biggest impact on improving the lives of people with Parkinson's.