Hayley Milne was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease 10 years ago.

Parkinson's disease has often been referred to as an 'old man's disease', but for one northern Tasmanian mum, this could not be further from the truth. Hayley Milne was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease 10 years ago, at just 41 years old. "I was working, had three children who were seven, nine and 11," Ms Milne said. Symptoms of the neurological condition began in her mid-30s and have grown progressively worse over time. "I have tremors in my head and my hands, my legs freeze, my balance is terrible, I don't have much of a memory," she said. The disease, which impacts up to 150,000 Australians, reshaped the future Ms Milne thought she would have. "I always enjoyed working but I stopped doing that 10 years ago," she said. "For quite a few years I was very isolated at home because the anxiety and depression was horrific that I didn't like leaving my safe place. "It took a lot to get over that grieving time, to go, you know, life's changing, however, there's nothing we can do to change it [back], so we've just got to keep going." Cases growing in the state Parkinson's disease is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world and Tasmania has some of the highest rates in the country. Launceston local Peter Longman downplayed his Parkinson's symptoms for close to a decade before being left with no option but to confront his diagnosis three years ago. Mr Longman's symptoms impact nearly every aspect of his life. Mr Longman had always been very active. "But you wouldn't catch me doing it nowadays." Now, getting out of a chair is hard for Mr Longman. Daphne Longman said it was heartbreaking to see the disease "stealing" her husband. "He was a very athletic man up until three, four years ago, he did the Cradle to Coast 75-kilometre bike ride, he bushwalked, he kayaked — he can't do any of that now," she said. The disease also impacts Mr Longman mentally. "He'll be trying to speak to somebody, and he loses the sentence in the middle," Ms Longman said. Tasmania chosen for global study Despite experts predicting the disease will double in the next 20 years, little is actually known about what causes it, who it can impact, and how to treat it. An international study is hoping to expand worldwide genetic research into Parkinson's disease and Tasmania has been chosen to contribute. The University of Tasmania has been funded by both the Shake It Up Foundation and Global Parkinson's Genetic Program to collect blood samples from Tasmanians living with and without Parkinson's disease. UTAS researcher Samantha Bramich is one of those leading the initiative in Tasmania and is encouraging all Tasmanians to join the genetic study. "We're really lucky to have been invited to contribute to this worldwide project, which is hopefully going to provide some important breakthroughs in our understanding of the genetics of Parkinson's," Dr Bramich said. "We need better treatments and potentially disease-modifying treatments to prevent and cure it, but, in order to do that, we need to know more about the genetics behind Parkinson's." For fellow Parkinson's researcher Michele Callisaya, this study hits close to home. "I was diagnosed just over four years ago, but I had symptoms for probably two or three years before that," Dr Callisaya said. Like Ms Milne, Dr Callisaya received her diagnosis in her 40s. "The diagnosis really brought me into trying to do more research to improve care," Dr Callisaya said. Dr Callisaya has already rolled up her sleeve for the global study and hopes to see others do the same. "Traditionally, we don't get things like the clinical trials and the big studies coming to Tasmania, so it's a fantastic opportunity," she said. 'Willing to do anything' Ms Longman hopes the study will give her and her husband more answers. "To see Peter, who to me wasn't an old man, and who was so fit and active, to be becoming debilitated by this disease was frustrating and my nurse mind wanted to find out the causes. "All these questions are on my mind and none of them have been answered." She knows her husband may not receive any of the benefits but hopes it will help people diagnosed in the future. "We're willing to participate in anything that helps," she said.

Summarized by Newsio from Australian Broadcasting Corporation. How we summarize →

Cancer cells can stay hidden in the body for years before causing a relapse.

Meningioma is the most common brain tumor in adults.

Scientists who study the Y chromosome expect to find a record of loss.