Learn about Parkinson's disease Learn about Parkinson's disease Sir James Parkinson first wrote about this progressive, incurable neurological disease in 1817, when the disease was known as Shaking Palsy. Suffers will be unable to raise their voice, speak with a monotonous tone of voice and use a run of words. The cough reflex is also affected which will lead to an increased risk of pulmonary infections. Difficulties moving in bed and raising from a chair are also noticed, along with frequent constipation and an increase in skin creases.
Symptoms tend to increase in severity when the individual is anxious or under stress.
For this reason most suffers stay lock up at home avoiding work and society. Bradykinesa results in a delay in response time to a stimulus, thus the apparent slowness in initiating and performing movements. This may eventually lead to akinesia, where skilled movements cannot be initiated. However, occasional once a movement is initiated they are carried out rapidly, which results in a typical shuffling gait known as festination. Suffers will have difficulty stopping, changing direction and walking around obstacles.