A third of people with Parkinson's hide or lie about their condition

Figures show 38% of people with Parkinson's in the North West try to hide their symptoms. Credit: PA

Research has found 38% of people with Parkinson's in the North West have tried to hide their symptoms or lied about having the condition, according to Parkinson's UK.

The charity says there is an alarming level of fear around diagnosis of the disease.

Some people who have hidden their symptoms said it was down to not wanting people to feel awkward or embarrassed around them, feeling they would be judged, or that the symptoms were not socially acceptable.

Around 127,000 people have Parkinson's in the UK, 14,000 of whom are in the North West.

The charity says 42,000 people in the UK have put off telling someone close to them about their diagnosis.

More than a third of people surveyed in the North West said they experienced negative emotions in the year following their diagnosis. Many said it felt "like their world had ended" and that they "did not know who to turn to".

Nearly half of people in the North West with the condition who have told immediate family about their diagnosis said they felt "able to accept" it.

A quarter said they felt relieved and 14% said they were glad they did not have to hide their symptoms anymore.

  • You can find advice, information and support at Parkinson's UK or by calling the confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303.