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 | Yorkshire Times A Voice of the Free Press |
1:00 AM 29th November 2021
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More Than Half Of Adults In Yorkshire And The Humber Wrongly Believe Available Parkinson’s Treatments Can Halt Or Slow The Condition
The charity Parkinson’s UK said public misconceptions are ‘really worrying and and could hold back progress towards finding a cure’
Charity is urging the public to help fund research breakthroughs to find better treatments and a cure now, as part of their ‘Time for Can’ campaign
New figures released today (Monday 29 November) show that almost 6 in 10 adults in Yorkshire and the Humber (59 per cent) incorrectly think there are Parkinson’s treatments available which can halt or slow the progression of the condition. The reality is that there is currently no cure for the condition and current treatments only mask the symptoms.
“Every hour, two more people in the UK find out they have Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s UK, Europe’s largest charitable funder of Parkinson’s research, is appealing for the public to support it’s ‘Time for Can’ campaign, which shows the reality of living with Parkinson's and the researchers working towards better treatments and a cure - driven by people’s needs and powered by supporters. The campaign is focused on increasing the public’s understanding of Parkinson’s while highlighting the urgent need for donations.
Dr Beckie Port
“Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world and at the moment, there is no way to stop, slow or reverse it. Yet this survey shows that in Yorkshire and the Humber there is a public misconception that we already have the treatments needed to stop the condition in its tracks.
“This is really worrying and could hold back progress towards finding a cure. In fact, as Parkinson’s progresses, higher medication doses are needed to manage its symptoms. This in turn increases side effects, which can be incredibly distressing. For some, medications may successfully manage symptoms for five years or more, but for other people, progression may be much faster.
“Every hour, two more people in the UK find out they have Parkinson’s. Anyone can get it, young or old and it is a serious condition. That’s why we need to drive forward promising research. People with Parkinson’s urgently need better treatments and a cure now, but this can only happen with the support of the public in Yorkshire and the Humber. With everyone's help, we can discover new treatments and find new therapies to improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s.”
“Better treatments can’t wait”
The UK-wide survey of 2,000 adults also found that nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of adults in Yorkshire and the Humber are unaware of how many symptoms exist for Parkinson’s.
“Life with Parkinson’s medication is all about trial and error.
With more than 40 potential symptoms such as lack of sleep, anxiety and stiffness, everyone’s experience of Parkinson’s is different. These symptoms are always there and can impact everyday tasks, leading to ‘can’ts.’ It can have an impact on tasks, such as tying shoelaces, buttering bread to playing with your kids. People may find themselves unable to keep their job, drive and leave their house. The longer a person has Parkinson’s, the harder it gets, which is why better treatments are needed now.
Carolyn Ibberson, 54, lives in Bradford, West Yorkshire, and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013 at the age of 46. Carolyn takes about 20 tablets everyday and says a cure would give her life back.
Carolyn Ibberson
“Life with Parkinson’s medication is all about trial and error. It’s not a nice feeling when you don’t get the warning that your medication is wearing off and fatigue sets in. Right now, I'm having a rough time and the stress is making my Parkinson's worse.
“I love to do arts and crafts but on many days I get all set up to do something and then my tremor starts or fatigue takes over and my day is just spoiled. My body just won't do the things that I want to do. I can't do fine detailed work when it comes to crafts and I also forget things a little bit more than I did a few years ago.
“I haven’t let Parkinson’s get in the way of what I like doing. I’ve always liked dancing and singing, but my balance problems worsened, I was walking with a stick and my voice got quieter. It was only during the pandemic when my local group emailed about Zoom classes for singing, seated exercise and dance, that I re-discovered that I can sing. My voice has improved and I love singing karaoke, which I would have never dared to do before I had Parkinson’s. The seated exercises have made my body a little steadier and it has made me fitter than before.
“However, I know my Parkinson’s is progressing. We need more people to understand that Parkinson’s is not just about having a tremor, being slow or experiencing stiffness. We need better treatments urgently. A cure would give me my life back. I never expected my life to turn out like this and it feels like my freedom has been stolen.”
To find out more and donate now to find a cure for Parkinson’s, visit https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/donate