It can affect people of all ages, and symptoms vary from person to person.

Some of the more common symptoms include:

• Tremors in the hands, arms, legs, jaw or head
• Muscle stiffness
• Slowness of movement
• Impaired balance and coordination

Not everyone experiences all of these, and symptoms can come and go.

When people are diagnosed under the age of 50, it’s known as Young-Onset Parkinson’s (YOPD). The condition itself is the same, but the impact on day-to-day life can be very different. Many people are still building their careers, supporting families, and managing financial commitments.

I was 39 when I was diagnosed.

At the time, my biggest concern was how long I would be able to continue working. I had a young family and was the main earner, so the uncertainty was difficult. I still had many years ahead of me in my career.

The diagnosis itself didn’t come as a complete shock. I had been going through tests for around nine months, and in many ways, Parkinson’s was the best outcome it could have been.

From that point, I made a decision to be open about it. I spoke to our HR Manager and then to Ashley Turner, our CEO. That was the start of my experience of working with Parkinson’s.

Over the past six years, I’ve had opportunities to talk about my condition, whether through wellbeing sessions or conversations with colleagues. Being open has made a real difference. The people around me understand how I am, and recognise that there are times when I might not be feeling at my best.

Outside of the practice, it can be harder to know when to raise it. I tend to let it come up naturally, and I’m always happy to talk about it when it does.

I continue to work on projects, attend meetings, and contribute as I always have. Recently, I’ve been involved in a flagship retail project with UNIQLO and UC Build in London, which has been a great experience. I have built up a lot of experience over the years, and I want to continue using that for as long as I can.

Parkinson’s is a degenerative condition, so I don’t know exactly what the future holds. But I do know that I’m working in an environment where I feel supported and understood, and that makes a huge difference.