When Sarah Hill's son complained of aching legs, her GP told her not to worry. But it was one of the first signs Alex had Parkinson's disease, a condition usually associated with the over-60s.
Alex Hill was just eight years old when his mother first thought there might be something seriously wrong with him. He complained that his legs hurt for days after taking part in a PE lesson and Sarah had already noticed he dragged one leg when he was tired.
She took Alex to her GP in Folkestone who told her there was nothing to worry about. But Alex developed more odd symptoms, including obsessive behaviour and shouting at birds. A few months later, Alex suddenly fell flat on his back. His handwriting deteriorated and he had a slight tremor. The GP laughed at the suggestion of Parkinson's.
Alex was referred to a local paediatrician, who treated him for epilepsy, but the medication made no difference. Within months he was falling up to 28 times a day. He was finally referred to the Evelina Children's Hospital in London, where specialists diagnosed juvenile-onset Parkinson's disease. A brain scan confirmed low levels of dopamine.
Some 145,000 people have Parkinson's in the UK, with the majority diagnosed over 60. About 5% experience symptoms before age 40, but diagnosis under 20 is very rare. Alex was put on Levodopa, which acted like 'rocket fuel' but made him manic. By age 12 he was mostly using a wheelchair. At 14, he underwent deep brain stimulation, which reduced his tremors and 'gave him back his smile'.
Prof David Dexter, deputy director of research at Parkinson's UK, said: 'It is vital that professionals look at the symptoms a person has, rather than making assumptions based on their age, so people get the right diagnosis, first time.'
