Please be patient... I have Parkinson's

Understanding the condition is key to stopping the discrimination, says Parkinson's UK
Parkinson's disease affects 127,000 people across the UK

As Mark Cavendish raced by in the cycling road race at the Olympics this summer, one of the spectators standing by the track was arrested. Mark Worsfold, a 54-year-old father, was handcuffed and held by police for more than five hours, because he “failed to smile or look like he was enjoying himself”.

Worsfold has Parkinson’s disease. He was diagnosed in 2010 and wasn’t smiling because one of the symptoms of his condition is muscle rigidity.

Today, the charity Parkinson’s UK has warned that sufferers are being subjected to “intolerable levels of prejudice”, after it was found that nearly half of those afflicted with the disease have experienced discrimination because of their symptoms.

Parkinson's UK said that 41 per cent of sufferers say they have been discriminated against.

The research, undertaken to highlight Parkinson's Awareness Week, also found that one in five Parkinson's sufferers has had their symptoms mistaken for drunkenness. And almost a quarter of sufferers admitted they avoid going out at busy times of the day because they are wary of people's reactions.

One person in every 500 has Parkinson’s. That’s about 127,000 diagnosed cases in the UK. And it’s not just the over 50s. One in 20 sufferers are under 40.

The most obvious symptoms are movement related, including shaking, rigidity and difficulty walking. It can also cause tiredness, pain and depression.

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition caused by a deficiency of a chemical called dopamine. It happens when the nerve cells in the brain that generate dopamine die. Dopamine allows messages to be sent to the parts of the brain that co-ordinate movement so without it, movements become slower. There’s currently no cure and it’s not known why the cells die.

But meanwhile, says Steve Ford, chief executive at Parkinson’s UK: "Far too many with Parkinson’s are having to battle against intolerable levels of prejudice.

"Life with Parkinson's can be challenging enough, but when that is coupled with feeling scared to even go out in public for fear of freezing in a busy queue and being tutted or stared at - as over half the people we spoke to do - life can feel incredibly cruel.

"Time and again people with Parkinson's have to fight against the old stereotype that the condition is just a tremor. This basic misunderstanding has sentenced people with Parkinson's to a life of hurtful comments, being refused service in shops and even being shouted at in the street all because people have mistaken their speech or movement problems - a common symptom of the condition - for drunkenness."

Here are five things you can do to help, compiled by people with Parkinson’s

Please be patient

It takes me longer to do things. Give me time - I'll get there.

Understand communicating can be difficult

If I don't smile, I'm not being unfriendly - I just can't move my face. Talking isn't always easy, but if you listen carefully you'll hear me.

Please don't stare or make assumptions

It's upsetting if you stare or think the worst. If Parkinson's makes me unsteady, please don't assume I'm drunk. If I'm not working it's because I can't. There is currently no cure and my symptoms will get worse.

Ask if you can help

I can tell you if I need your help. It might take me a while to speak, so please be patient. Don't try and move me if I freeze - I could fall over.

Take a little time to understand Parkinson's

Parkinson's affects all kinds of people. Many are raising families, working or volunteering in spite of the obstacles they face. A little understanding would make life a lot easier.

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