It is a neurological disorder not a mental health disorder and there is no known cause. It is not contagious or life threatening and is not thought to be hereditary, but nor is it curable. Parkinsons disease affects about two in every 1000 people, both men and women and from all walks of life. Documented evidence of its existence goes back as far as the days of the Roman Empire, but it wasn't until James Parkinson gave the first medical description of the disease in 1817 that it was recognised. The main characteristics are tremors, stiffness, loss of balance and slowness of movement.
Tremors occur when the arm or leg is relaxed and disappear when they are in use.
Other symptoms can include tiredness, numbness, difficulty with writing, altered speech, depression, weakness and loss of facial expression. One of the early signs of the disease is a flat, expressionless face and sufferers are often thought of as being uncaring. While drugs don't cure the disease, they can be used to control its symptoms. Exercise is very important, as is adequate sleep and surgical techniques, such as cauterising the overactive areas of the brain or putting in devices similar to pacemakers, are now being used to control tremors. Education is the key to people understanding its effects and anyone wanting to know more can contact the Wairarapa Parkinsonism Society.