Today in Australia, 38 people will hear the words "You have Parkinson's" for the very first time. That's more than one person every hour.
April is Parkinson's Awareness Month while April 11 is World Parkinson's Day and also the birthday of Dr James Parkinson, the first physician to recognise it as a medical condition.
The Shake It Up Australia Foundation will mark the month with its annual Pause 4 Parkinson's campaign, where it asks people to pledge a donation to Parkinson's research or participate in fundraising or clinical trials.
With 150,000 Australians currently living with Parkinson's disease, it is the second most common neurological disease after dementia, but there's still a lot of work to do to build awareness.
Foundation founder and chief executive Clyde Campbell said there are all kinds of ways people can get involved, from a Picnic or a Party 4 Parkinson's to Pacing or Pedalling 4 Parkinson's in a walking/cycling challenge.
The foundation, which is partnered with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, even suggests Pancakes 4 Parkinson's.
The condition progresses and affects everyone differently, and as such symptoms can vary from person to person. Resulting from the loss of cells in various parts of the brain, depleting dopamine production, the motor system nerves become unable to control movement and coordination.
The most commonly visible symptoms are tremors or shaking, but the condition can also manifest in many other forms, such as slowness of movement, muscle rigidity, speech changes, fatigue and sleep disturbances and mood disorders.
There is currently no cure, however organisations like Parkinson's Australia and Shake it Up Australia are working with researchers and others to help find a cure, as well as better treatments and support for people living with the condition.
