Living with young onset Parkinson’s: Ian’s story

Today is World Parkinson's Day. 

Parkinson's is the fastest growing brain disease on the planet. It's a progressive and debilitating condition that affects over 11 million people worldwide. 

Understanding Parkinson’s

Parkinson's is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain. These brain cells make dopamine. This is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in movement. Everything from smiling to talking, writing and walking. The loss of dopamine leads to lots of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

There are over 40 symptoms of Parkinson’s, but the 3 main symptoms are:

• a tremor (shaking)
• slowness of movement
• muscle stiffness

As more cells are lost, problems with movement increase. But other non-movement symptoms are common too. These include:

• memory and sleep problems
• pain
• mental health problems like anxiety and depression.

What causes Parkinson's?

What causes the loss of these nerve cells isn't clear. Researchers think it's a combination of age, genetic, and environmental factors. Most people with Parkinson's experience symptoms after 50. 10-20% of people affected experience symptoms before they turn 50.

There's no cure yet. People living with Parkinson's have to learn to navigate its impact on their health and wellbeing. Different drugs can help manage symptoms and physiotherapy and other supportive therapies help with day to day life.

Behind these facts are real people navigating these challenges every day.

So when Ian, one of our brilliant customers, reached out to raise awareness, we wanted to share his story with Parkinson's, in his own words:

Ian's story:

"My journey started a couple of years ago when I became seriously unwell and it had a lasting impact on my health and nutrition. During that time, I lost around two stone in weight, and I found it quite frightening not really recognising my own body or strength in the way I was used to. Following this, I was diagnosed with atypical Parkinsonism, a form of Parkinson’s disease that can present differently from the more commonly known type.

Since then, everyday life has changed in ways I still adjust to. I live with symptoms such as tremors, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and dexterity difficulties, which can make even simple, everyday things like preparing a meal or opening packaging feel unexpectedly difficult and sometimes overwhelming.

One thing I’ve learned is that Parkinson’s isn’t always visible in the way people expect. Around 30% of people don’t experience tremors, which can make the condition harder to recognise and sometimes misunderstood from the outside.

Because of the impact on movement and daily living, I had to completely rethink how I managed food and nutrition. Cooking became much more challenging, both physically and mentally. After a lot of trial and research, I came across Field Doctor and their Mediterranean meals, which have genuinely helped me. Not just practically with mealtimes, but also in helping me regain weight and feel a bit more supported day to day. My favourite meal is the beef ragu."

Where to go for more information

We’re really grateful to Ian for sharing his story and helping to raise awareness of Parkinson’s. It’s a privilege that our meals are able to support him in a small way. If you’d like to learn more about Parkinson’s, including symptoms, diagnosis and living well with the condition, here are some helpful websites:

Parkinson’s UK – A brilliant UK charity that’s here to support every Parkinson’s journey.

NHS overview of Parkinson’s disease

World Parkinson’s Day information