Parkinson's Awareness: Help improve life for those affected

13 April 2011

According to the charity Parkinson's UK, up to 7 million people in the UK are touched by Parkinson's in some way.

This week (11 - 17 April) is Parkinson's Awareness Week, and Parkinson's UK is urging people to help raise awareness, whether by speaking out as a person with Parkinson's, raising funds to find a cure or just spreading the word.

What is Parkinson's disease?


Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition. People with Parkinson’s disease experience a loss of nerve cells in the part of their brains responsible for controlling voluntary movements. As these cells are lost, people with Parkinson’s disease experience a loss of a chemical called dopamine and the messages controlling movement stop being transmitted efficiently.

The main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are:

  • tremor (involuntary trembling or shaking movements; the most common symptom)

  • rigidity (stiffness)

  • slowness of movement (bradykinesia)

  • balance problems

  • problems with posture (particularly a tendency to stoop forwards)


We do not know what causes Parkinson’s disease, and unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease.

Find out more





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