6 hours Ago By Lauren Haughey,Zasha Whiteway-Wilkinson
John Stapleton, the veteran broadcaster known for his work on Newsnight, Good Morning Britain and Panorama, has revealed he is living with Parkinson's disease. The 78-year-old was diagnosed with the progressive brain condition just two months ago after his son, Nick Stapleton, noticed a few concerning symptoms. Speaking on BBC Morning Live, Nick said: "He's a talented journalist, known for being sharp-minded and engaged.
But over the last year, I started to notice that dad was seeming a bit more anxious, he wasn't walking so confidently and he had this tremor in his hand." He added: "So, two months ago, he went for some tests and unfortunately, a few days later, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. It was deeply troubling news.
" The NHS states that Parkinson's occurs when parts of the brain become 'progressively damaged over many years'. Its main symptoms include involuntary shaking or tremors, memory problems, balance issues and speech difficulties, reports Lancs Live. John finds the latter particularly 'frustrating', as he often has to repeat himself during conversations.
Joining the conversation, he said: "It's very frustrating sometimes particularly when people are constantly saying to you 'sorry what did you say? ', and you have to repeat yourself time and time again. I'm fairly pragmatic about the prospect of this getting worse I try to remain positive because what's the point of not being?" Despite the distressing diagnosis for both John and his family, Nick revealed that it wasn't entirely unexpected. John's mother, who is also Nick's grandmother, suffered from Parkinson's before her passing.
"I witnessed my mother's decline from this lively, brilliant, outgoing lady, to a lady who was fairly fragile. One of the practical problems she faced initially was an inability to do things like open a can of beans or peel a potato. And believe it or not, I'm having the same problems to some extent myself right now," said Oldham-born John.
He added: "In the end, you know, she was sort of locked in her own house. So yeah, her lifestyle changed dramatically and I suppose mine will too." Now, two decades later, Nick feels as though their family is witnessing history repeat itself, as he grapples with the reality that his father's Parkinson's may deteriorate over time.
When discussing this, John expressed his desire to maintain his independence for as long as possible but would 'reluctantly' consider care if the situation worsened. He would also contemplate using technology to assist with practical aspects of life, such as a stair lift. John concluded: "I think Nick's approach was extremely helpful because he's not trying to push me into anything, we don't have to rush this, we do need to think about it.
Let's fact it, that's the reality, my Parkinson's is not going to go away." If you're worried that you or someone close to you may have Parkinson's disease, the NHS advises consulting a GP, who can then refer you to a specialist for additional tests. Although it usually impacts individuals over 50, some people may start showing signs before they reach 40.
The complete list of symptoms as per the NHS is as follows: Balance issues Loss of smell Nerve pain Urinary issues and/or constipation Erectile difficulties among men Sexual arousal and orgasm difficulties Dizziness and fainting Excessive sweating Swallowing problems Excessive saliva production Sleeping issues Anxiety and depression Memory difficulties Dementia symptoms.
