Inevitably, human bodies change with age. For some, this brings unexpected troubles, and for those with acute neurological conditions these can be life changing. Parkinson’s, which affects 145,000 Britons, is such a condition. Their number includes Jeremy Paxman, until recently a familiar face on television now struggling with the decline the disease brings.
Parkinson’s is fearful, as – with over forty symptoms, including freezing, tremors, painful muscle cramps, difficulties speaking and swallowing, dementia and hallucinations – it shocks and hurts. Every hour, two more people are told they have Parkinson’s.
Each April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, devised to honour the birth of Dr. James Parkinson who, in 1817, first identified the disease which is now the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. With our population growing and ageing, the number of people affected in the UK may rise to nearly 175,000 by 2030, so it is essential to do all we can to help sufferers and to find a cure.
In my constituency of South Holland and the Deepings alone, there are over 300 people with Parkinson’s.
April’s World Parkinson’s Day marks an important opportunity to raise awareness of the disease and to support sufferers and their families. They deserve the care of us all, which is why I supported the Parkinson’s UK branch in Spalding for many years, serving as President. Local volunteers continue to both offer help to those who need it and raise awareness and provide reassurance through fellowship.
This week, Parkinson’s UK will launch its new report on the cost of living and those with the disease, as almost two thirds of people either with Parkinson’s, or related to a sufferer, say they are struggling to cover their costs. No one should suffer still more stress, given that nearly 40% of Parkinson’s sufferers experience depression and 31% face anxiety.
Though most develop symptoms after the age of 65, thousands of working age people are affected too. Michael J. Fox, perhaps best known as the leading character of the hit 1985 film Back to the Future, was diagnosed just six years after this cinematic sensation; he was just 30 years of age. Although told at the time of his private diagnosis that, due to the condition, his acting career had only ten years left, in fact, it was only in 2020 that he retired from acting, having enjoyed a full and successful professional career. Inspiringly, speaking of his Parkinson’s, Michael said: “it’s really opened me up to more compassion.”
In one way or another, all lives are touched by the pain of sorrow, just as we all know the delight of joy. Anyone can be struck by Parkinson’s, as Jeremy Paxman, Michal J. Fox, and many of my constituents know. The truest acts of compassion are to do everything possible to find a cure and, in the meantime, do all we can for sufferers and those that love them.
