Concern about Parkinsons doubles in just one year

 

23 April 2001

 

People are feeling healthier than ever before, yet growingold, and diseases associated with growing old, top their lists of healthconcerns.

 

A BUPA survey of 1,000 adults in the UK has found that thenumbers of men and women concerned about Parkinson's disease has doubled injust one year. The survey also showed marked jumps in concern expressed aboutother diseases associated with age such as Alzheimer's, arthritis andrheumatism.

 

"This demonstrates that people have real concernsabout their health in later life and what will happen to them. With increasinglongevity, people are thinking and questioning what life will be like when theyare older and perhaps less able to take care of themselves," says Dr CliveBowman, medical director of BUPA Care Services.

 

Growing number of younger sufferers

 

Approximately 120,000 people suffer from Parkinson'sdisease in the UK. The majority of people with Parkinson's are elderly, but thenumber of younger sufferers appears to be growing. Today, one person in 20diagnosed with Parkinson's is under the age of 40.

 

"We are not sure if this is because incidence of thedisease is really on the increase or that greater awareness and improveddiagnosis are responsible for the increasing numbers," says Dr Bowman.

 

The disease

 

The first indication that something is wrong usually comeswhen people notice a tremor, keep dropping things, can't swing one arm likethey used to, or find they can't move as quickly as before.

 

"Many older people attribute the first symptoms ofParkinson's disease to age and do not suspect they are ill," says GillHowarth, home manager of Mali Jenkins Specialist Residential Home, the onlyresidential home in Britain that cares specifically for people with Parkinson'sdisease. Situated in the West Midlands, Mali Jenkins is run by BUPA on behalfof the John Grooms Association. It cares for 20 people with Parkinson'sdisease.

 

Parkinson's Disease is a neurodegenerative conditioncharacterised by a loss of the chemical dopamine from the brain. Dopamine is achemical that is involved with the transmission of messages from the brain tothe muscles. A loss of dopamine affects voluntary and involuntary musclemovement. Doctocrs estimate that symptoms develop when over half of the brain'sdopamine has been lost.

 

Movement becomes more and more difficult as the diseasedevelops. For each person with Parkinson's disease this manifests itself indifferent ways.

 

"Some of the people we care for experience a tremorwhile others experience rigid arms or legs. Mobility becomes a problem andeveryday tasks such as washing, dressing and eating take longer. Some have amask-like expression as muscles of the face are effected. Speech and swallowingcan also become difficult," says Gill Howarth.

 

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be controlled formany years by drugs that mimic the effects of dopamine on the brain. After manyyears, side effects caused by the drugs can outweigh the benefits. The diseaseeventually leads to severe disability.

 

The need for individual treatment

 

"Because the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease can varyso widely from person to person each patient requires individually tailoredtreatment. All residents at Mali Jenkins are cared for by a GP with a specialinterest in Parkinson's and all of them receive support and guidance from aconsultant," says Dr Clive Bowman.

 

At Mali Jenkins the daily routine is fitted around eachresident's unique care plan and drug regime, and the main meal is eaten in theevening in order to ensure medication is most effective. The home is built onone level to make mobility easier and the layout is kept deliberately spaciousin order to aid mobility.

 

"We place huge emphasis on getting to know ourresidents and getting to know the person behind the symptoms. Social activitieslike involvement in local fetes, trips to the pub and gentle exercise play animportant part in this. There is a real feeling of camaraderie at Mali Jenkinsas residents and staff support each other," says Gill Howarth.

 

For further information on Parkinson's Disease Society's website or telephone 0808 800 0303.There is also further information on BUPA's Parkinsons disease factsheet.

 

For further information on finding care for a loved onephone BUPA Care Services on 0800 00 10 10.

 

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Appendix

 

Table of figures

 

The 2000 Health of the Nation survey is the latest in anannual series commissioned by BUPA, the country's leading independent healthand care organisation. It was carried out in December 2000 amongst a representativesample of over 1,000 adults in the UK.

 

During the course of the survey, respondents were asked tolook at a list of health concerns and were asked which of them were of concernto them personally. The most significant increases for both men and women wereshown for diseases associated with old age.