Focus on Parkinson's: causes, treatment and support

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition which can affect every-day activities such as walking and talking, with symptoms ranging from tremor, slowness of movement and muscle stiffness. Other non-motor symptoms include problems with sleeping, depression and anxiety and it is these that people with Parkinson's often find most debilitating. People with Parkinson's will have a carefully balanced combination of medication to control and manage their symptoms. The timing of this medication is crucial. Parkinson's can affect each person differently and is a fluctuating condition, the symptoms and effects of the condition the district nurse may see on one visit may not be representative of how the person is affected so it is vital that she speaks to family, friends and carers of the person with the disease.