Billy Connolly: “Parkinson’s is the first thing I think about in the morning”

Perspectives

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 28 January 2016

Prep: Cook: Serves:

The Scottish comedian opens up about his condition upon receiving a special recognition award for his career in comedy

Billy Connolly has revealed that fighting Parkinson’s disease is the “first thing I think about in the morning.”

While accepting a special recognition award from Dustin Hoffman at the UK’s National Television Awards – which was broadcast to millions last week – the comedian was asked how he was coping with the degenerative condition, and responded with a moving, honest account.

“It’s managing me,” he said. “It’s kind of weird; it creeps along and crawls along. It’s the first thing I think about in the morning, so I try to make the second thing I think about more interesting.” The Scottish comedian who was diagnosed in 2012.

Congratulations @Billy_Connolly on your Special Recognition! An amazing moment for everyone @TheO2! #NTAs2016 pic.twitter.com/yPuyn67j67

— National TV Awards (@OfficialNTAs) January 20, 2016

The award paid tribute to his 50-year career in comedy, and actor Dustin Hoffman flew in especially from the US to present the special honour to his friend.

Sporting traditional tartan trousers, Connolly said that his career had been a “grand old rock and roll all the way” and he left the stage to a standing ovation.

Photo credit: National Television Awards

Last Month

Next Month

Go Back

Share this story

Comments

Health & Fitness

“Parkinson’s is left outside – they come here to dance”

Dance delivers hope for people with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s in the news: January

A roundup of Parkinson’s news stories in January

What to expect: the fourth World Parkinson Congress

We take a look at what you can expect in Portland

Plant-based compounds could treat chronic pain in Parkinson’s, study finds

A six-year study has found that chronic pain in people with Parkinson’s is linked to a gene involved with how the brain responds to cannabis compounds. The investigation examined why some people with the condition experience persistent pain – and the impact it has on their work, daily life and social relationships. Conducted by researchers at Manchester’s Salford Royal Foundation Trust, UK, and funded by Parkinson’s UK, it is the largest study to investigate chronic pain in people with Parkinson’s. Dr Monty Silverdale, consultant neurologist at Greater Manchester Centre, said: “This study is significant because it shows the important role of genetics in chronic pain in Parkinson’s. “Our findings suggest that cannabis-based compounds may be worth investigating as a treatment for pain in Parkinson’s.”

Could playing table tennis help reduce Parkinson’s symptoms?

Researchers at Fukuoka University, Japan, have found that playing table tennis may help alleviate motor symptoms in Parkinson’s. As part of the study, 12 people with Parkinson’s with an average age of 73 played a five-hour session of table tennis every week for a period of six months. The sessions were developed specifically for people with the condition by experienced table tennis players from the university’s department of sports science. The participants were evaluated after three months and at the end of the study. At both evaluations, participants had reduced symptoms – showing improvement in speech, handwriting, walking and hand tremors. Two participants reported side-effects of backache and falling. Study author Ken-ichi Inoue, MD, of Fukuoka University said: “While this study is small, the results are encouraging because they show ping pong, a relatively inexpensive form of therapy, may improve some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. A much larger study is…

‘Dopamine-boosting’ BT13 molecule could be used to slow Parkinson’s

Researchers have discovered that a molecule called BT13 could have potential to treat Parkinson’s. The study, conducted by scientists from the University of Helsinki, Finland, found that mice injected with the BT13 molecule had an increase in dopamine levels in the brain. Their findings also suggested that the molecule could lead to a new drug treatment to protect the brain cells that produce dopamine. Dopamine helps coordinate movement, but people with Parkinson’s have normally lost between 70 and 80% of the brain cells that produce the neurotransmitter when they are diagnosed with the condition. Professor David Dexter, Deputy Director of Research at Parkinson’s UK – which co-funded the study – said: “People with Parkinson’s desperately need a new treatment that can stop the condition in its tracks, instead of just masking the symptoms. “More research is needed to turn BT13 into a treatment to be tested in clinical trials, to…

All fields required

First name*
Last name*
Email address*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Country of residence*
About me*
- I have Parkinson's disease
- I am a partner / carer / family / friend of someone who has Parkinson's
- I am a healthcare professional with an interest in Parkinson's
- I work for a Parkinson's disease organisation
- Other
CAPTCHA
*
- By proceeding you agree to our
Phone
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Billy Connolly: “Parkinson’s is the first thing I think about in the morning”

Perspectives

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 28 January 2016

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Health & Fitness

“Parkinson’s is left outside – they come here to dance”

Global update

Parkinson’s in the news: January

Global update

What to expect: the fourth World Parkinson Congress

Plant-based compounds could treat chronic pain in Parkinson’s, study finds

Could playing table tennis help reduce Parkinson’s symptoms?

‘Dopamine-boosting’ BT13 molecule could be used to slow Parkinson’s

{title}

Subscribe

Billy Connolly: “Parkinson’s is the first thing I think about in the morning”

Perspectives

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 28 January 2016

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

Health & Fitness

“Parkinson’s is left outside – they come here to dance”

Global update

Parkinson’s in the news: January

Global update

What to expect: the fourth World Parkinson Congress

Plant-based compounds could treat chronic pain in Parkinson’s, study finds

Could playing table tennis help reduce Parkinson’s symptoms?

‘Dopamine-boosting’ BT13 molecule could be used to slow Parkinson’s

{title}

Subscribe

Sign in