How Parkinson's is affecting 145,000 people in the UK today

One in 37 people alive today will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s in their lifetime - according to estimates by a leading charity.

Parkinson’s UK estimates around 145,000 people in the UK had the condition in 2018.

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Broken down, that was 121,927 in England, 12,184 in Scotland, 7,692 in Wales and 3,716 in Northern Ireland.

And with population growth and ageing, the charity says this is likely to increase by a fifth, to around 168,000 people in the UK, by 2025.

Parkinson's is a serious and progressive neurological condition with more than 40 symptoms that affects people of all ages. Currently there is no cure.

Steve Ford, Parkinson’s UK chief executive, said: “Despite the fact that Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer’s, many people still don’t understand what Parkinson’s is or how it affects people."

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As part of World Parkinson’s Day, the charity is launching a new drive to raise awareness.

Steve said: “We hope our new Parkinson’s Is campaign which sees people across the UK share how the condition affects their lives will raise awareness and help correct public misconceptions about this much misunderstood condition.”

According to recent research from Parkinson’s UK, eight in 10 people with Parkinson’s believe that awareness and understanding is low because people don’t consider it to be a serious condition - and only associate it with one symptom - a tremor.