Parkinson’s disease is the world’s second most common neurodegenerative disorder, behind Alzheimer’s disease. While it’s unknown exactly why people develop the condition, according to Parkinson’s UK, experts believe its a combination of genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the damage of nerve cells in the brain. So what are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and how can it be treated? Here’s everything you need to know. What is Parkinson’s disease? Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative neurological condition. This means that over time the brain of an individual living with the disease becomes more damaged, the NHS explains. A person living with Parkinson’s disease doesn’t have enough of the chemical dopamine in their brain, the Parkinson’s Foundation states. Dopamine is responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells in the brain. When an individual experiences a loss of nerve cells in the brain, this causes a reduction in the quantity of dopamine in the brain. What are the symptoms? The main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include involuntary shaking (otherwise known as tremors), movement that’s slower than usual and stiffness in the muscles, the NHS outlines. Other symptoms may include difficulty balancing, nerve pain, incontinence, insomnia, excessive sweating, depression and anxiety. For more information about the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, visit the NHS here. How many people does it affect? Around 145,000 people in the UK are affected by Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s UK explains. This means that around one in every 350 adults is living with the degenerative condition. According to the NHS, symptoms of Parkinson’s usually develop after the age of 50. However, for every one in 20 people affected by the disease, symptoms may appear when they’re under the age of 40. The Parkinson’s Foundation outlines that men are 1.5 more likely than women to be affected by the condition. High-profile individuals to have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s include former US president George H. W. Bush, Back to the Future star Michael J. Fox and The Chase star Paul Sinha. How can it be treated? While there is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease, symptoms may be controlled through treatment. The most common form of treatment used for the condition is medication, Parkinson’s UK states. “Drug treatments aim to increase the level of dopamine that reaches the brain and stimulate the parts of the brain where dopamine works,” the charity explains. The medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease varies according to each patient. This is because as symptoms of the disorder progress, the drugs used to treat the condition may need to be changed. While drug treatment may help to manage Parkinson’s symptoms, it cannot slow the progression of the disease. The NHS explains that those living with Parkinson’s disease may also undergo physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and, in rare cases, brain surgery to treat the condition. For more information about Parkinson’s disease, visit Parkinson’s UK. Read More What are symptoms of coronavirus – and where has it spread? Latest travel updates as coronavirus continues to spread Can face masks really protect you against coronavirus or flu? The dirty truth about washing your hands Billy Connolly shares health update on Parkinson’s disease: ‘Every day gets stranger’ Tracey Emin says she ‘totally accepted death’ following cancer diagnosis Nicky Hilton calls out critics who made negative comments about nephew Phoenix’s head

Kourtney Kardashian Barker has revealed that she and Travis Barker conceived their son “naturally” after a challenging journey with in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). In an interview for the November issue of Vogue, the Poosh founder candidly revealed that she and her husband were able to get pregnant without the stress caused by IVF treatments. Kardashian Barker told the outlet that she “felt really pressured and pushed into doing IVF. It went against my intuition, and I didn’t feel fully prepared for the mental or physical toll it takes.” Kardashian Barker had been documenting her IVF journey on her family’s Hulu reality TV series, The Kardashians. She paused the process in 2022 in favour of focusing on her lavish Italian wedding to her now-husband, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. “We just got pregnant naturally,” she revealed to Vogue. “It was an indescribable feeling. Shock, then super-happy, fear sets in, worry, but I remembered then to have gratitude.” Elsewhere in the interview, the Lemme founder discussed her life-threatening health scare when she underwent foetal surgery in September, saying: “That experience opened my eyes to a whole new world of pregnancy that I didn’t know about in the past.” “It was terrifying. And I learned that insurance typically only covers two ultrasounds when you’re pregnant, I had no idea,” she added. “I’ve always been lucky enough to do more than what insurance covers, and it’s one of those ultrasounds that saved my baby’s life.” The pair are currently expecting their first baby together. Kardashian Barker announced in June that she was pregnant by holding up a sign at her husband’s Blink-182 show in Los Angeles that read: “Travis, I’m pregnant.” The couple later revealed that they were expecting a baby boy after posting a gender reveal video on Instagram. The reality TV star is also mother to daughter Penelope, 11, and sons Reign, eight, and Mason, 13, who she shares with ex Scott Disick. Barker shares daughter Alabama Luella, 17, and son Landon Asher, 19, plus step-daughter Atiana De La Hoya, 24, with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler. Earlier this month, Kardashian Barker told Vanity Fair Italia that it was a “dream come true” to welcome a baby with her husband after such a long, painful journey with IVF. She got candid about the things she loved the most about raising a child, saying: “I love experiencing life through their eyes and doing with them all the things I did as a child. Going to Disneyland or even just touching sand for the first time.” She continued: “I love creating traditions and memories and making everyday things feel special and magical. Being able to do that now with Travis is a dream come true.” “I like being pregnant. I’m obsessed with the idea of being pregnant!” Kardashian Barker added. She maintained that she “physically” felt great, even though this pregnancy is much different than her first three. “But this time, unlike the other three, I was followed by a different group of doctors, who gave me many restrictions in the first months. No workouts, no Pilates, no caffeine and no plane trips. Even no sex!” Kardashian Barker said. “I think all this caution made me a little afraid because, in the past, I never had to be so careful.” Read More Kourtney Kardashian responds to criticism over pregnancy at 44 Khloe Kardashian confronts Kris Jenner about cheating on Robert Kardashian Sr Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker may have revealed son’s name at Disney-themed baby shower Kourtney Kardashian responds to criticism over pregnancy at 44 Menopause campaigner Mariella Frostrup: ‘I look forward to a future where women gradually stop feeling so ashamed’ More girls miss school and college due to their periods than colds, survey finds

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