Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition. This means that it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time.
Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson’s in the UK and it's the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.
Parkinson’s is caused by damage to the nerve cells in the brain which produce dopamine.
There are different treatments, therapies and support available to help manage the condition and researchers are working to develop new and better treatments all the time – and one day a cure.
"Parkinsonism" is the umbrella term used to describe the symptoms of tremors, muscle rigidity and slowness of movement. There are different types of Parkinson’s but telling the difference between them isn’t always easy, for the following reasons:
- The first symptoms of the different forms of parkinsonism are so similar.
- In many cases, parkinsonism develops gradually. Symptoms that allow doctors to make a specific diagnosis may only appear as the condition progresses.
- Everyone with parkinsonism is different and has different symptoms.
What are the common symptoms of Parkinson's?
There are over 40 symptoms of Parkinson’s. From a tremor or stiffness to problems with sleep and mental health. Everyone’s experience is different.
There are many potential signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s but not everyone will experience all these symptoms.
The more common symptoms of Parkinson’s include:
- Tremors
- Rigidity (stiffness)
- Slowness of movement and speech
- Mild memory and thinking problems
- Sleeping problems
- Pain
- Mental health problems, including anxiety and depression
Find out more about the symptoms of Parkinson’s: