Billy Connolly health: ‘I sleep like a wild animal’ Star reveals symptoms of condition – Express

Billy Connolly, 76, described his life as slipping away in a BBC documentary about his Parkinsons disease. The condition causes parts of the brain to become progressively damaged over the years, and one of the most notable symptoms is involuntary sharking of particular parts of the body. Now the star has revealed his Parkinsons affects his sleep and he can no longer sleep in the same bed as wife Pamela Stephenson. Speaking to Mirror.co.uk, Billy said the condition causes him disturbed nights.

He said: I sleep like a wild animal. Laughing and singing or having fights. Pamela has to sleep in another bed.

The star admitted he is concerned he has become a pain in the arse, but credited his wife of 30 years for plumping his pillows for him every night.

He added: So far, she has never tutted. And shes a rather attractive nurse.

Billy experiences good days and bad days with his condition, and alongside disturbed sleep he struggles to perform tasks like putting money into his wallet.

To slow the effects of the condition, the funnyman takes daily medication.

There are three main symptoms associated with the condition, according to the NHS. These include:

As well as these physical symptoms, Parkinsons disease can also cause a wide range of psychological symptoms.

These can include:

If youre concerned you may have symptoms of Parkinsons disease, see a GP.

The condition is thought to affect around one in 500 people, with most people starting to develop symptoms when theyre over 50.

Theres currently no cure for Parkinsons disease, but the NHS also lists the treatments available to help reduce the main symptoms.

These are:

Parkinsons UK explains: People with Parkinsons dont have enough of the chemical dopamine because some of the nerve cells that make it have died.

We dont yet know exactly why people get Parkinsons, but researchers think its a combination of genetic and environmental factors that cause the dopamine-producing nerve cells to die.

Another symptom of Parkinsons disease may appear in a persons handwriting.

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Billy Connolly health: 'I sleep like a wild animal' Star reveals symptoms of condition - Express