‘My god, am I imagining this?’ Leading neurologist on his Parkinson’s diagnosis aged 50
Professor David Blacker is fighting to ban the weedkiller paraquat, arguing evidence is mounting for its links to Parkinson's.
Leading neurologist Clinical Professor David Blacker was in his early to mid-40s when he noticed dystonia of his foot.
A couple of years later, the medical director of Perth’s Perron Institute could no longer ignore the signs and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, aged 50.
That was in 2018, and since stepping back from acute clinical work, he has led a campaign calling for Australia to ban paraquat: a common herbicide used in agriculture with links to the condition.
6minutes: You say you wish you had acted more quickly to get a diagnosis. Was there a reluctance to seek help?
