Parkinson’s Awareness Month
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, with World Parkinson’s Day on 11 April. This day is dedicated to increasing awareness of the condition, in which areas of the brain gradually deteriorate over time.
Causes of Parkinsons disease
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. A reduction in dopamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Exactly what causes the loss of nerve cells is unclear. Most experts think that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is responsible.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
The main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are:
- involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body (tremor)
- slow movement
- stiff and inflexible muscles
A person with Parkinson’s disease can also experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms.
These include:
- depression and anxiety
- balance problems (this may increase the chances of a fall)
- loss of sense of smell (anosmia)
- problems sleeping (insomnia)
- memory problems
Seeking Further Advice
See a GP if you’re concerned that you may have symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
They will ask about the problems you’re experiencing and may refer you to a specialist for further tests.
To find out more you can contact Parkinsons UK as they are the main research and support Parkinsons charity in the UK. They can help if you wish to find out more about living with Parkinsons disease.
You can contact them by
- calling their free helpline on 0808 800 0303 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays)
- emailing hello@parkinsons.org.uk
- Or visiting their website here