all shook up: Parkinson's at 25

i'm all shook up: Parkinson's at 25 | a brighter future for Parkinson's disease? | help and info

Michael Gibson was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the age of 18. It is rare for someone to be diagnosed with Parkinson's at such a young age. Having lived in denial about his condition for six years, Michael goes on a quest to establish the potential long-term effects on his life.

© C4

Michael meets with others living with the condition – paying a visit to a Parkinson's exercise class in Watford and meeting two other men who were diagnosed with Parkinson's at a relatively young age.

personal story

The documentary follows Michael's journey with Parkinson's. Michael's experiences are unlikely to mirror those of others, as everybody's experience with the condition is an individual one.

People with Parkinson's often ask, 'How will I be in five or ten years' time?' But, this question is impossible to answer with any certainty. Everyone with Parkinson's has a unique collection of symptoms and responses to treatment and it is impossible to predict how someone's symptoms will develop and the rate at which the condition will progress.

In order to ensure that people with Parkinson's maintain a high quality of life for as long as possible, healthcare professionals need to work in partnership with their patients to establish drug and therapy regimes that control their symptoms as effectively as possible. Establishing a drug regime that fits with their lifestyle and clinical needs, and accessing therapies can make a huge difference to an individual's wellbeing.

impact upon the family

The documentary reveals the way in which Parkinson's emotionally impacts upon family members and friends. How people are affected, and how they feel, depends on many individual circumstances, including the type of relationship they have with the person diagnosed with Parkinson's. How they feel may also depend upon how the person with Parkinson's is managing their symptoms. For some, it can be difficult to accept that a partner, friend or relative has Parkinson's.

causes of Parkinson's

The causes of Parkinson's are currently unknown, but it is generally understood that people develop the condition due to a combination of genetic susceptibility and an external trigger. Understanding what causes Parkinson's is critical to identifying potential effective cures for the condition, which is why the millions of pounds are invested in research each year.

genetic testing

Scientists have to date identified nine genes linked to Parkinson's. Genetic mutations and a higher incidence of Parkinson's have been found in a very small number of families. But, in the vast majority of cases, Parkinson's is not thought to be inherited. Having a gene that has been linked to Parkinson's does not automatically mean that someone will develop Parkinson's.

During the documentary, viewers see Michael visiting his specialist and taking a genetic test to establish whether his brothers are likely to develop the condition and whether he is likely to pass the condition on to any children he has in the future. Michael is told that he is extremely unlikely to pass on his Parkinson's.

Michael's worries over the genetic test highlight the concerns held by many people with Parkinson's that there may be a higher incidence amongst other members of their own family or that their children may develop Parkinson's. Whether or not to have a genetic test can be a difficult decision and it needs careful thought. In the view of the Parkinson's Disease Society there is not currently a case for genetic testing even where a relative has the condition. Screening to identify genes associated with Parkinson's may only cause unnecessary alarm or worry in people who may never go on to develop the condition. Even if someone is found to be a carrier of genes associated with Parkinson's this does not imply that it is inevitable that he or she will develop the disease. Also, another reason currently against genetic testing is that even if a faulty gene is detected from the complex tests, there are no preventative strategies for someone to follow, as the causes of Parkinson's are still not understood.

Dr Kieran Breen, Director of Research at the Parkinson's Disease Society said: 'The genetic mutation alone does not predict that someone will develop Parkinson's. In some people, it is the genetic susceptibility, when combined with other environmental agents, which renders these people more likely to develop Parkinson's than others.'

Research is ongoing on this subject in order to gain a greater understanding of the factors associated with Parkinson's.

(August 2006)

Read on for more information about Parkinson's or for details of relevant organisations, websites and reading.