Parkinson’s Disease
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Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition.
People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of a chemical called dopamine because some nerve cells in their brain have died.
There’s currently no cure for Parkinson’s and we don’t yet know why people get the condition.
Without dopamine people can find that their movements become slower so it takes longer to do things.
Parkinson’s symptoms do get worse over time, but a number of treatments can help to control them.
There are no laboratory tests so it’s important that the diagnosis is made by a specialist.
The specialist will examine the person for any physical signs of Parkinson’s and take a detailed history of the symptoms they’re experiencing.
There are guidelines for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s which health professionals should follow:
Main symptoms of Parkinson’s
Physical and other symptoms of Parkinson’s
- Bladder and bowel problems
- Eye problems
- Falls and dizziness
- Fatigue
- Freezing
- Pain
- Restless legs syndrome
- Skin and sweating problems
- Sleep problems
- Speech and communication problems
- Swallowing problems
Mental health and Parkinson’s
Contact details
Useful contact numbers within the Hospital and community settings are listed below:
Alison Leake PD CNS: 0208 725 4677
Catherine Parry PD CNS: 0208 725 2141
