Joost says there are about 43,000 people in Holland who have been diagnosed as having parkinsons, which is about .3 percent of the 15 million population. This compares with the international average of 2 percent. In days gone by parkinsons was something that wasn't talked about and seemed to be something only neighbours would have, not you, he says. Now, since the Dutch Queen's husband was diagnosed with the disease, there has been more money set aside for research. The youngest person in Holland with parkinsons is just 6 and Joost says the average age is getting younger, which is either due to better diagnostic techniques or simply younger people having the disease, he says.
Early symptoms are similar to stress and are very hard for doctors to detect.
Martinborough man Bruce Cutfield, is planning a trip to England to look into this. Joost says treatment of the disease in Holland differed from New Zealand in that massage sessions are paid for by health insurance, which is compulsory. Joost has treatment three times a week. He also uses a special machine which is similar to a vacuum cleaner. It lifts the skin and stimulates the blood circulation, removing toxins from the muscles.