The 10 little-known signs of Parkinson’s disease you must not ignore as John Stapleton dies aged 79

LESS than a year on from sharing his Parkinson’s diagnosis, John Stapelton died at the age of 79.

Known as the ‘giant of broadcasting’, with a career spanning five-decades, he died in hospital on Sunday morning after complications with pneumonia.

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John Stapelton shared his Parkinson’s diagnosis in October last year[/caption]

BBC

A tremor in his hands was one of the fist signs[/caption]

BBC

The broadcaster, who has a career spanning five decades, also experienced difficulty swallowing and smaller handwriting[/caption]

The veteran journalist shared his Parkinson’s diagnosis in October 2024.

Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain shortly after, he said: “There’s no point in being miserable…it won’t ever change.

“I mean, Parkinson’s is here with me now for the rest of my life. Best I can do is try and control it and take the advice of all the experts.”

Speaking to podcast Movers and Shakers, John said he was diagnosed with the condition in April 2024, and his friends noticed his famous voice had lost some of its resonance.

They also noted he was walking with what he called a ‘Joe Biden shuffle’.

But speaking about his first symptoms, John said it started with a tremor in his hands three years before he was officially diagnosed.

He explained: “About two or three years ago, I started with a tremor. I went to see a specialist, and he said he didn’t think it was Parkinson’s. He called it something else – a benign essential tremor.

“I asked, ‘How do you get that?’ and he said, ‘We haven’t a clue’.

“But the symptoms got worse, so I went back.”

When John returned, it was confirmed he had Parkinson’s.

He added: “I also started having other symptoms: difficulty swallowing, my handwriting becoming illegible because I’d write in tiny letters no one could decipher, and feeling fatigued a lot of the time.

“And of course, my voice – it’s lost a lot of its resonance. I have to speak louder now.”

Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.

In July this year, frontman of Black Sabbath Ozzy Osbourne died of cardiac arrest, but since being diagnosed in 2003, has been living with Parkinson’s disease.

Around 166,000 people are currently diagnosed in the UK, but cases globally are expected to double to 25 million by 2050.

Dr Simon Stott, director of research at Cure Parkinson’s, told Sun Health: “Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s.

“Unlike Alzheimer’s, where brain cells are being lost all over the brain, Parkinson’s affects very specific sets of cells.”

Age is one of the biggest risk factors, but it can affect anyone.

Symptoms start to appear when the brain can’t make enough dopamine – a hormone which plays a vital role in regulating movement.

This usually happens around the age of 50, but some people see the first signs in their 40s.

“There are more than 40 symptoms, but it is mainly characterised by slowness, rigidity and a resting tremor,” Dr Stott said.

These typically occur when the condition has already significantly progressed. But there are some that can surface much earlier.

From sleep problems to constipation and losing your sense of smell, here are 10 of the most common.

1. Losing your sense of smell

UP to 95 per cent of people with Parkinson’s notice that their sense of smell isn’t as strong as it used to be or has disappeared completely.

“For example, someone may struggle to smell their favourite foods, and this can start years before other symptoms develop,” said Victoria Baggaley, senior adviser at Parkinson’s UK.

2. Sleep problems

NIGHT-time issues are also common in people with Parkinson’s.

They are more likely to have insomnia and other sleep disruption due to symptoms like stiffness, pain and restless leg syndrome.

Waking up to pee and sleep apnoea (where a person momentarily stops breathing while asleep) are also prevalent.  

3. Smaller handwriting

ANOTHER telltale sign is smaller handwriting.

Victoria said: “Because of changes in the brain, people with Parkinson’s can find that their movements become smaller and less forceful than before.

“This can lead to someone’s handwriting becoming smaller than it previously was or gradually getting tinier on the page.”

4. Issues with your bladder or bowels

IF you have Parkinson’s, you are more likely to have toilet trouble.

“Needing to pee immediately without warning or go frequently throughout the night are the most common bladder symptoms, and constipation is the most common bowel problem,” Victoria said.

5. Depression

ALMOST half of people with Parkinson’s will experience depression.

“This is characterised by feelings of extreme sadness or a sense of emotional emptiness for a long time,” Victoria said.

Other signs include difficulty concentrating, increased appetite and low energy.

6. Feeling anxious

ANXIETY – such as feelings of unease, worry or fear – is also common in the early stages.

This is partly due to the concerns sufferers have about living with a long-term health condition.

According to Parkinson’s UK, symptoms of anxiety include: a sense of dread, constant worry or difficulty concentrating, sweating, a racing heart, breathlessness, dizziness or trembling.

7. Fatigue

TIREDNESS that doesn’t go away with rest affects up to half of all people with Parkinson’s.

It is thought to be caused by chemical changes in the brain, but may also be related to other symptoms of the condition.

It can fluctuate dramatically day to day, so someone may feel full of energy one day but be knackered the next.

8. Uncontrollable actions

A MORE typical symptom of Parkinson’s is a tremor, or an uncontrollable movement.

Usually, this starts as shakes in the hand before “spreading” to the rest of the arm or down to the foot on the same side of the body.

9. Slow movement

SLOWNESS of movement, also known as bradykinesia, may mean that it takes someone with Parkinson’s longer to do everyday things.

For example, you might struggle with coordination so paying for items at a checkout becomes harder, walking may become more like a shuffle, or your walking speed may slow down.

10. Stiffness, inflexibility and cramps

RIGIDITY, such as stiff muscles, inflexibility and cramps, is another of the first signs to show.

People may notice they find writing, doing up buttons, getting out of bed, or tying shoe laces more difficult than usual.

IF you are experiencing any of these symptoms, speak to your GP.

“While there is no cure or therapy to slow down the progression of the disease, the symptoms of Parkinson’s can be treated very well and improve quality of life,” Dr Stott said.

“The three main treatments to help manage the condition are medication, physical activity and therapies – including speech and language therapy and physiotherapy,” Victoria added.