Parkinson's facts for journalists

What is Parkinson's?

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition.
People with Parkinson's don't have enough of a chemical called dopamine because specific nerve cells inside their brain have died. It is not known why these cells die.
Without dopamine people can find that their movements become slower so it takes longer to do things. This can make everyday activities, such as eating, getting dressed, or using a phone or computer, difficult or frustrating.
The three main symptoms of Parkinson's are tremor, muscle stiffness and slowness of movement. But not everyone will experience all three.
As well as the symptoms that affect movement, people with Parkinson’s can find that other issues, such as tiredness, pain, depression and constipation, can have an impact on their day-to-day lives.
Parkinson's doesn't directly cause people to die, but symptoms do get worse over time.

Every hour, someone in the UK is told they have Parkinson's.
One person in every 500 has Parkinson's. That's about 120,000 people in the UK.
Most people who get Parkinson's are aged 50 or over but younger people can get it too. One in 20 is under the age of 40.
Up to 7 million people in the UK are touched by Parkinson's.
4 million people worldwide are estimated to have Parkinson's.

There is currently no cure for Parkinson's, but there are a range of treatments to control the symptoms and maintain quality of life.
Medication is the main treatment for Parkinson's. Drugs work by restoring the level of dopamine in the brain or mimicking its actions, but can have side effects, including abnormal involuntary movements (dyskinesia) and compulsive behaviours.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a type of surgery where electrodes are implanted deep inside specific parts of the brain. The electrodes are connected to a small battery under the skin in the person's chest, to generate electrical signals to stimulate the brain. If successful, DBS can provide significant improvement in an individual's symptoms and quality of life, but DBS is not a suitable option for everyone with Parkinson's.
Physical therapies such as physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy have an important role to play in the management of Parkinson's.

As the UK’s Parkinson’s support and research charity we’re leading the work to find a cure, and we’re closer than ever.
Since 1969, we have spent around £45million on research into all aspects of Parkinson's. In 2009 alone, we spent almost £4.2million on research projects. Currently, we are supporting around 90 research projects, worth over £15million.
We bring people with Parkinson’s, their carers and families together via our network of local groups, our website and free confidential helpline. Because we’re here, no one has to face Parkinson’s alone.
Specialist nurses, our supporters and staff provide information and training on every aspect of Parkinson’s.
We campaign to change attitudes and demand better services.
Our free and confidential helpline 0808 800 0303 provides help and advice to all people affected by Parkinson's. Helpline hours are Monday-Friday 9am-8pm and Saturday 10am-2pm.
Our work is totally dependent on donations.

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