If you’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s or are exploring whether you might have it, you might be left asking why and what it means for you.
While Parkinson’s is a lifelong, progressive condition that can shorten life expectancy, our members are often relieved to learn it’s not the death sentence they’d been led to believe.
“You get negative stories… this unfortunate imagery that Parkinson’s is all doom and gloom, but you soon find that it isn’t.”
Sadly, myths and misconceptions around Parkinson’s can make a devastating diagnosis feel almost impossible to navigate. We’ve put this article together to set the record straight on a few of them:
Myth 1: Parkinson’s only affects older men
Although it is more prevalent in men – 59% of people in the UK with Parkinson’s are male – Parkinson’s can affect people of all ages and backgrounds; it is not limited to one demographic. Although it’s an age-related condition and average onset is age 60, it can affect people as young as 20. 10-20% of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s have young onset.
Myth 2: Parkinson’s only affects movement
While tremors and stiffness are common symptoms, Parkinson’s also has non-motor effects such as fatigue, sleep changes, and mood shifts, cognitive impairments, constipation, sweating, sexual dysfunction and pain. There are over 40 symptoms which affect different people to different extents. The good news is that most of these are treatable – also, up to 30% of people with Parkinson’s won’t experience tremors.
Myth 3: There’s nothing you can do to control Parkinson’s
There’s actually a lot you can do to manage your symptoms and prolong the progression of Parkinson’s. Exercise will change your actual brain structure as well as help you maintain a positive mindset to tackle some of the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s.
Research has proven that exercise combining physical effort with cognitive challenge reduces symptoms of Parkinson’s, slows progression and helps people with Parkinson’s to live well.
Myth 4: You need to lower your expectations around what you can achieve
This is absolutely not true. You may well need to adjust what you do or the way you do things, but a diagnosis is no reason to stop reaching for your goals.
The internet is full of inspiring stories of the achievements of people with Parkinson’s, like Alison who swam the English Channel and Jon, who became the oldest astronaut, so there’s infinite hope for those with more modest ambitions!
Caroline is one of the success stories that Reach Your Peak has been proud to play a part in. She said when she was diagnosed:
“I kept thinking ‘tomorrow I’m going to be in a wheelchair, tomorrow I’m not going to be able to move.”
A couple of months ago, she made the England Women’s Walking Football team.
Myth 5: Parkinson’s = the end of your life as you know it
It’s usually not the Parkinson’s that’ll get you, though it might increase your risk of falls and infections and those things could. That’s why building strength and mobility through exercise as early as possible can be so beneficial to protecting you against the complications of Parkinson’s. And you’re not on your own…
One of our Reach Your Peak programme members puts it perfectly:
“I suddenly seemed to know other people with Parkinson’s who’d had it for years and they seemed ok… so I knew it wasn’t a prescription for death.
“Life can go on and go on pretty well.”
What is true about Parkinson’s
Exercise is medicine: It will change your brain, reduce your symptoms, and even slow the progression of Parkinson’s. Plus, it has a number of happy side effects: better mood, improved sleep and increased flexibility.
There’s nothing wrong with taking medicine if you need it: just think about what lifestyle changes you can combine with it to give you more control.
You don’t need to stop, you just need to adapt; there are activities out there you’ve probably never heard of that can keep you motivated and loving life.
The stories are true: and we’ve got a few to share. Others who have been where you are now can be a great source of inspiration to help you live well, enjoy life and keep challenging yourself.
Start taking control today
If you’ve been diagnosed or are awaiting confirmation of a diagnosis, please remember:
- Parkinson’s is not the end of the road; you just need to make some adjustments.
- There’s a lot you can do to manage your symptoms and prolong its progression.
- You can live a full, active life with Parkinson’s.
Find out more and download our free Parkinson’s specific exercise guide.
