This Parkinson’s Awareness Week, Tim Loughton MP (East Worthing and Shoreham) has pledged his support to the charity Parkinson’s UK’s We Won’t Wait campaign, calling for urgent action to unlock the promise of research developments that could pave the way to better treatments and stop Parkinson’s drugs ‘falling behind’.
Tim MP said:
“While great strides have been made over the past 200 years, people with Parkinson’s are still waiting for a treatment that can tackle the condition head on.
“Because of this, I am supporting Parkinson’s UK’s We Won’t Wait campaign: we need a complete step change to deliver better treatments and a cure faster.”
Research released by the charity revealed that despite being an incurable, degenerative condition which can affect anyone, in the South East:
Nearly half (48%) of people are unsure, or wrongly say that it is possible to prevent Parkinson’s.
More than four in five (84%) are unsure, or incorrectly think that there is no limit to the amount of time Parkinson’s medication works for.
Nearly two in three (64%) wrongly believe that Parkinson’s medication does more than mask or ease the symptoms of the condition.
Parkinson’s UK wants to drive forward crucial developments in Parkinson’s research to pioneer more effective treatments that are desperately needed for the estimated 5,600 living with the condition in the South East.
Commenting on Tum MP’s pledge, Steve Ford, Chief Executive at Parkinson’s UK said:
“We are delighted that Tim MP is supporting our crucial campaign to transform research so that people with Parkinson’s have access to new and better treatments that will improve their lives and, ultimately, a cure for this cruel condition.”
To find out more about the We Won’t Wait campaign visit parkinsons.org.uk