‘I was told I was too young to have Parkinson’s at 35 – these were the signs’
Man diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 35: ‘I was told I was too young’
- London man Toussaint Smith was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at 35 after initially being dismissed as "too young" to have the condition.
- His symptoms began in 2019 with fatigue, clumsiness, and weakness on his left side, which he initially attributed to a trapped nerve.
- After experiencing worsening symptoms, including stiffness, illegible handwriting, shuffling gait, and insomnia, he sought medical advice and was eventually diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson's.
- Parkinson's disease affects approximately 1,800 people under 50 in the UK, with even fewer cases diagnosed in people under 40.
- Mr Smith has joined a research group to contribute to a better understanding of the disease and raise awareness, especially among younger and more diverse populations.