Parkinson's disease: early signs and symptoms to look out for after John Stapleton reveals diagnosis

• BBC Presenter John Stapleton has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
• There are 153,000 people in the UK living with Parkinson’s disease.
• Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.

BBC presenter John Stapleton has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The 78-year-old who is best known for hosting Newsnight, Panorama and GMTV’s News Hour, revealed his diagnosis in a clip yesterday (October 21) on BBC One’s Morning Live.

Stapleton opened up about his diagnosis in an interview alongside his son Nick, the veteran presenter said: “Speaking is how I’ve earned my living for the best part of 50 years.” He added: “I am fairly pragmatic about the prospect of this getting worse. I try to remain positive, because what’s the point of not being?”

The pair discussed the future, with Nick, who is also a BBC presenter, asking his father how he could best support him. Stapleton said: “I want to remain as independent as I can for as long as I possibly can. In terms of the house, I’d be very reluctant to leave it, which shall not surprise you at all.”

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition that causes parts of the brain to become damaged over time. It is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, with Parkinson’s UK revealing that 153,000 people live with the condition in the UK. Here’s everything you need to know about the early signs and symptoms.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition that causes parts of the brain to become damage over time. It is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, with Parkinson’s UK revealing that 153,000 in the UK live with the condition.

What are signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s symptoms tend to develop when people are over the age of 50, although the NHS explain that some people will experience their first symptoms when they are under the age of 40.

Early signs of Parkinson’s can include tremors and stiff and inflexible muscles, the NHS explain other symptoms can include:

• depression and anxiety
• balance problems (this may increase the chances of a fall)
• loss of sense of smell (anosmia)
• problems sleeping (insomnia)
• memory problems

What is the cause of Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s is caused when people don’t have enough of the chemical dopamine in their system, because some of the nerve cells that create it are not working. Parkinson’s UK explain that without dopamine people can feel like their movement is affected and it can take longer to do things.

The reason why people get Parkinson’s is not exactly known, it is not thought to be genetic, but there has been some evidence that environmental factors may lead to its development.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, treatment options are available however the condition is progressive which means that it can get worse over time.

You can find out more about the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease on NHS.UK and can find support available at Parkinson’s UK.