Latest news with #ParkinsonsUK
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
This Handwriting Change May Be An Early Sign Of Parkinson's
Parkinson's disease, the condition Ozzy Osborne was diagnosed with roughly five years before his death, affects about 153,000 people in the UK at the moment. It is a progressive neurological disease. While there is no single, outright cure for it yet, the NHS says therapies like medication and physiotherapy can minimise its symptoms for many. But sadly, the condition is often misdiagnosed, even though early diagnosis can be very beneficial. That's why organisations like Parkinson's UK champion better, earlier diagnoses, and hope one day for a single test that can accurately spot the disease as soon as possible. In the meantime, however, they've shared early signs of the condition; one of which involves changes to your handwriting. How is handwriting linked to Parkinson's? Parkinson's UK says that noticing smaller handwriting over time is one potential early sign. This is called micrographia, and could affect as many as 50-60% of people living with Parkinson's, though the numbers are not settled. 'You may notice the way you write words on a page has changed, such as letter sizes are smaller and the words are crowded together,' the charity shared. A 2022 paper suggested that the handwriting change may precede other motor symptoms of Parkinson's, like tremors. Parkinson's is not the only cause of handwriting changes – it's been linked to other neurological changes, while Parkinson's UK says 'writing can change as you get older, if you have stiff hands or fingers or poor vision' – but it may be worth seeing your doctor about it, especially if it comes with other symptoms. What are the other early symptoms of Parkinson's? According to Parkinson's UK, having a single early symptom doesn't mean you've got the disorder. But 'if you have more than one sign, you should consider making an appointment to talk to your doctor,' they wrote. Aside from micographia, the other possible symptoms they listed were: Tremors. Shaking in your finger, thumb, hand, or chin while at rest is a common early symptom. Loss of smell, especially for strongly-scented foods like bananas, liquorice, and gherkins. Moving a lot in your sleep, especially if you start acting out your dreams or thrashing around a lot. Trouble with movement or walking. You might find your arms don't swing as much as they used to when you walk, that your limbs or stiff, that your shoulders of hips feel tight, or that your feet feel 'stuck to the floor.' Constipation. This can be normal, but it can persist with Parkinson's. Developing a soft, low voice that others might describe as hoarse or breathy and which might sound quieter than usual. 'Facial masking,′ or a sad or angry expression on your face that happens regardless of your mood. Dizziness or fainting, for instance, when getting up out of a chair – this can be linked to low blood pressure, which is associated with Parkinson's. Stooping or hunching over, especially if this is new for you. Related... 'Super Smeller' Inspires Test To Spot Parkinson's 7 Years Before Diagnosis Gut Health Discovery Could Help Future Parkinson's Diagnoses Parkinson's Cases Are Set To Double By 2050. Here Are 5 Early Signs To Watch For
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Ozzy Osbourne: What is Parkinson's disease?
Ozzy Osbourne has died, more than five years after revealing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease after spending 12 months in 'constant' pain. – What is Parkinson's? Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition caused by the death of nerve cells in the brain that create the chemical dopamine. – What are the symptoms? People begin to develop symptoms of Parkinson's when the brain is no longer able to make enough dopamine to adequately control movement. The three main symptoms are tremor (shaking), slowness of movement and rigidity (muscle stiffness). Subtle changes in a person's walking pattern could be an early sign of Parkinson's disease. Some people develop very small handwriting, a loss in their sense of smell, nerve pain or insomnia. Symptoms usually develop slowly over several years. – Can it be treated? There is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease. Treatments include drugs such as levodopa, dopamine agonists and monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors. Levodopa is absorbed by the nerve cells in the brain and turned into dopamine. Increasing the levels of dopamine in this way usually cuts down problems with movement. Other therapies include physiotherapy and, in some cases, surgery. – What does Parkinson's UK say? Chief executive Caroline Rassell said: 'News of Ozzy Osbourne's death, so soon after his celebratory homecoming show, will come as a shock to so many. 'By speaking openly about both his diagnosis and life with Parkinson's, Ozzy and all his family helped so many families in the same situation. 'They normalised tough conversations and made others feel less alone with a condition that's on the rise and affecting more people every day. 'All of our heartfelt thoughts are with his family, friends and fans worldwide. His memory and the impact he left on the world will live on in all of them.'
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I took the DWP to court and won - but it was the worst time of my life
A man fighting to claim PIP at a court tribunal said it was "the worst two hours of my life" as he spoke about his struggles claiming benefits while dealing with Parkinson's. Steve Johnson, a self-employed farmer based near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, took the DWP to court to fight for his entitlement to disability benefit PIP after he was diagnosed with the progressive neurological condition in 2020. Johnson, who also cares for his wife Gilly, who lives with MS, currently receives universal credit and the daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP). When he first applied for PIP, he was awarded zero points. He felt the assessment assumed that because he worked in agriculture, he must be physically fit. However, he was struggling with his symptoms of Parkinson's, such a his right-sided tremor, difficulties sleeping, and loss of strength. Charities like Parkinson's UK have raised significant concerns about how recent and proposed government benefit cuts could disproportionately affect people with conditions like Parkinson's because symptoms can present differently from one day to the next. Current benefit assessments are often under scrutiny for failing to understand or account for fluctuating conditions like Parkinson's, leading to people like Steve being refused PIP payments by the DWP. While PIP payments avoided the chopping block in the latest round of government cuts, the disability benefit is up for investigation next Autumn, when the government will explore the impact of restricting the eligibility criteria for the payment. Success rates for taking the DWP to tribunal for PIP appeals are consistently high, with around 60-70% of cases assessed at court overturning the DWP's decision, Johnson said the stress of the process significantly worsened his symptoms. He told Yahoo News: 'My stress levels went through the roof. It just made my symptoms 10 times worse.' 'They twisted everything I said' Speaking about applying for PIP, Johnson told Yahoo News: "I applied for PIP with some assistance. I had a telephone assessment and I got one of the most upsetting letters back I've ever read. "They twisted everything I said. There's several times in this refusal letter that said, because I cared for my wife, I must be all right. Because I worked in agriculture, I must be all right. "My GP was incensed. He read the letter and said, do they have any idea what Parkinson's is? He then wrote to them to back me up. "My mandatory reconsideration came back, even with extra evidence, And it was just a cut and paste. It was just a generic, computer says no response. It didn't even mention Parkinson's. Left without an option, Johnson decided to take his PIP case to tribunal. While the farmer was advised that he had a very strong case, he didn't realise how nerve-racking it would be. He said: "It was so hard. I remember trying to drink a glass of water because my throat was dry, and then my tremor went into overdrive. At one point, his home was pulled up on Google Maps by the court while he was questioned about walking to the local shop. "They said, according to Google Maps, your local village shop its 750 metres away. Could you get to the village shop? Could you walk?," he explained. "I said, I don't know, I've not walked to the village shop two or three years now. "They made me give an answer on a guess. All of a sudden, a guess was taken as a definitive answer. "I was just mentally, physically, emotionally, absolutely drained," he added. A few days later, Johnson found out his appeal was successful. "We didn't get the decision there and then we got a letter a few days later and sure enough, they've given me the full 12 points for daily living, and four for mobility," he said. While Johnson was overjoyed to finally have the support, the experience took its toll. "It was two hours of the worst time of my life," he added. 'It's like a hidden trap door' Sadly, the farmer's benefits battle is far from over. Now, he is fighting to challenge the DWP after his transitional protection was removed from his universal credit payments when his income dipped. When a person is taken off a legacy benefit — like working tax credits, in Steve's case — and moved onto universal credit, they have a 12-month guarantee that they will not be worse off when they move to the new system. But as Johnson explains, self-employed farmers experience "feast or famine", so his income can vary significantly from month to month. Earlier this year, the farmer was alarmed to discover his universal credit benefits support dried up, and in his worst month, he received zero support. He told Yahoo News: "We went through three months of where I wasn't doing enough work, I wasn't selling cattle, but I had to pay the contractors. So I had a lot of bills and so I had a negative bank balance. "But it triggered this lower threshold rule, where the DWP apparently says if your income dips below a certain level — which they don't tell you about this until it happens — the government takes off your transitional protection. "We went from getting £986 to £800, then zero the next month." Steve is hoping to take part in a mass appeal investigating the impact of lower income threshold issues affecting transitional protection. "To me, it is fraud. How come the DWP are not carrying on my profits but my losses are included in my totals? "It's like a hidden trap door they don't really talk about. Then when I started challenging it, I was told it's in my claimant commitment. "It isn't in my commitment at all, it's only written in the law itself. It's hidden." 'We'll keep fighting' While Johnson receives the universal credit health top-up, people with Parkinson's hoping for support after April 2026 are likely to see their support halved under the government's welfare bill, Parkinson's UK has warned. While the government said 200,000 people with severe conditions will still be entitled to the higher rate of universal credit health top up once the payments are cut £97 p/w in April 2026 to £50 p/w, there are fears Parkinson's patients will not qualify as severe because of a lack of understanding about how Parkinson's affects day to day life. As the chart below illustrates, those with neurological conditions will be among the hardest hit should the PIP cuts go ahead next year, with around 38% of claimants projected to be affected. "The government's decision to cut universal credit costs is appalling. We believe that, despite the government's claims, savings are being made by effectively making people with Parkinson's ineligible for the higher rate health element," Juliet Tizzard, the director of external relations at Parkinson's UK, told Yahoo News. "The bill clearly states that someone must be constantly unable to do certain tasks to qualify. This will penalise people with Parkinson's, whose symptoms come and go. Until we can be certain that people with fluctuating conditions will not be penalised, we'll continue campaigning for a fair system. "We're thankful to the MPs who tried to stop the changes to universal credit, and for every campaigner who raised their voice. "We stopped the cuts to PIP, and while we're disappointed by the result today, this setback won't stop us. We'll keep fighting for better support, care and treatment for the Parkinson's community." The government has been approached for comment.
Daily Record
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Busy week for the Rotary Club of Dumfries
The club's Am-Am golf competition took place at Dumfries and County Golf Club on Tuesday and on Friday there was a visit from the Guid Nychburris principals. It was a busy week for the Rotary Club of Dumfries with their Am-Am taking place on Wednesday at Dumfries and County Golf Club and the Guid Nychburris principals visiting the club's lunch meeting on Friday. The Am-Am was blessed with fine weather and the 31 teams found the course in wonderful condition. There were the usual prizes for the teams with the best score, nearest the pin on certain holes and longest drive on certain holes. One prize which caught the eye was for the best team score on the 14th hole which was won with a super score of 10, which suggests two pars and two birdies. Wouldn't it be lovely if it was 3 holes-in-one and a seven. A well supported raffle was held during the day and helped to swell the coffers to a total of £4,500 which will be split between the nominated charities of the local branches of Parkinsons UK and Alzheimers Scotland . On Friday, a tradition that has been going since pre-war days, was a visit from the Principals of Guid Nychburris. The club was delighted to welcome Will and Lynsey and their Lynors Fergus, Jack, Rory and Ross and hear a bit about them and how they are enjoying their duties. Among the members there is a previous Cornet from the 1960s and a Lynor from the 1980s and among the guests were two former Cornet's lasses from 1964 and 1975. It was lovely to think that present Cornet's Lass Lynsey might pay the club a visit in the year 2075.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Couple's annual walk to raise funds for Parkinson's research
A Pembrokeshire couple has raised more than £50,000 for Parkinson's research through annual charity walks. Bob Ratcliffe and his wife, Jane, have been organising a number of walks for Parkinson's since 2011, in memory of Mr Ratcliffe's father, who lived with the condition. The walks started after Mr Ratcliffe's father died in 2010, having donated his brain and spinal column for Parkinson's research. The couple is now urging walkers across Pembrokeshire to join the 2025 Haverfordwest Walk for Parkinson's event on Saturday, June 7, to raise more funds for Parkinson's UK. Registration for the 7.8km circular walk, which costs £15 to enter, will begin at 10am at Haverfordwest Cricket Club. The walk will have planned refreshment stops and welcomes participants at any pace, including those with dogs on leads. Mr Ratcliffe said: "This is the fourth year of the Haverfordwest Walk and we are looking forward to it being the biggest and best yet. "We hope to have a fabulous surprise for walkers and passers-by in Castle Square around noon. "Please come along and get involved in the walk, even if you can't manage the full route." The event has the support of Haverfordwest Rotary, and donations of raffle prizes are always appreciated. Parkinson's is a complex brain condition that worsens over time, affecting 153,000 people in the UK, including around 8,300 in Wales. It has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety, and currently, there is no cure. Keri McKie, Wales community fundraiser at Parkinson's UK Cymru, said: "We are so grateful to Bob for organising this event again this year. "Parkinson's is a complex condition, and it's different for everyone. "It's important we continue to take vital steps in helping to fund vital research and make a difference to the 8,300 people living with the condition in Wales. "We hope that Bob's tireless fundraising inspires more people to support Parkinson's UK. "Whether or not you're living with Parkinson's and whatever your age or fitness level, we're sure there'll be a warm welcome for you in Haverfordwest for the walk." To sign up for the walk, visit the Eventbrite page or register on the day. For further details, contact Bob on 07887 707496 or email bobratcliffe@
