He is also one of the lucky few to have been selected to take part in a national trial which could slow down or even stop the disease altogether.
Over the next two years he will take part in a PD STAT study to test whether the drug simvastatin has an effect on tackling the disease.
When the Oxford Mail caught up with the 62-year old retired IT engineer who began the study three months ago to find out how he was getting on and to talk about his community efforts at raising awareness about the condition he was in good spirits.
He said: “It’s going well. As far as I know I have either got a placebo or the real thing.
“The high point was really getting enrolled on to the study, all I really do now is pop a red capsule into my mouth in the morning.”
On first taking part in the trial which could potentially change the lives of thousands of people he said that he was ‘honoured’ to have been selected.
He said: “I was very pleased to be selected for the trials, and not just for myself. It is good for medicine to try and test this drug. Hopefully this will help others.
“For all the people that have suffered from this and have had the symptoms I hope it can help others.
“I am honoured in myself to do something for somebody.”
As part of the Plymouth University-led trial Mr Salisbury was selected out of thousands of sufferers from 21 different hospitals.
Each participant will take one of two pills – either simvastatin which it is hoped can halt the disease, or a “dummy pill”, but Mr Salisbury won’t know which until the trial is over.
He said: “I have no idea if it will work or it won’t work, or if it’s a placebo.
“Most days I cough a lot and whether that’s a side effect or Parkinson’s or not I am not quite sure.
“It is a degenerative disease. I am quite early I think, I feel most of the symptoms some of the time but it is very rarely that they manifest themselves.
“You have to be quite upbeat. You have got two options, you can let it grind you down into the dust or do something about it.”
The married father of three children who is originally from Dudley said that his family has been very supportive since he was diagnosed.
He said: “I have been married for thirty odd years and the young children have all left home now.
“They have been very supportive. My family cope pretty well most of the time. My wife has been very supportive and my children have been very supportive.”
He said that when he was told the news that he had Parkinson's in 2010 he was in fact ‘relieved’ at the diagnosis as it explained to others the change in his behaviour.
He said: “It wasn’t particularly a shock because my father had had it. It wasn’t a great shock but probably more of a relief because then we knew what we were dealing with.
“I felt very good in my body and my behaviour but a lot of other people thought I was acting differently and it helped to explain that to them.
“I made it sort of a goal to raise awareness and understanding about the illness then.
“The community response is always amazing, a lot of people are prepared to understand a little more about the illness.
“It’s the awkward things like going up a flight of stairs and if people know the illness then they will have a greater understanding of it.
“It is a goal for me to get better awareness and understanding.”
To achieve his goal he has organised quizzes that include questions about his condition, but added a twist by insisting on quiz cheats to use every method to get the answers.
The quizzes which became popular after being launched last year allowed players to use google, talk amongst other teams and even phone a friend all in a bid to raise awareness.
The innovative idea was also a hit amongst the pub goers.
Mr Salisbury said: “I came up with the idea as part of the awareness week by adding more specific Parkinson’s questions to a standard pub quiz.
“Competitors were encouraged to cheat and use web searchers, phone a friend or ask another team for the answers to see questions, which exposes the wealth of support.
“By searching for the answer they learn about Parkinson’s. The competitors said they found this a novel idea and a fun way to learn.
“It feels like I am achieving something that will be useful. The charity and raising awareness has given me some purpose in life.”
People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical dopamine in their body and symptoms include tremors, rigidity and slowness of movement.
Experts are yet to find a cure and it is not known why people get the condition.
The latest study is being led by the Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit at Plymouth University and sponsored by Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and is funded by The Cure Parkinson’s Trust and the JP Moulton Charitable Foundation.
Mr Salisbury says the next big event in his calendar is the Parkinson’s UK Oxford Branches’ Christmas Concert which will include performances and readings from Ian Hislop and Commotio Choir.
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/14979840.Parkinson__39_s_sufferer_determined_to_increase_people__39_s_understanding_of_the_disease/
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