Michael J. Fox Deals with Parkinson's Disease |
by Ellen Kuwana Neuroscience for Kids Staff Writer December 10, 1998
He told People magazine (December 7, 1998, pages 126-136) that he noticed a twitch in his left pinkie, a twitch that within six months spread to his whole hand. A neurologist soon diagnosed the cause as Parkinson's disease. |
Fox worked hard to conceal his symptoms
from the outside world, and has expressed relief at making his condition
known to the public. It was difficult to hide his symptoms as they got
worse--tremors would shake his whole arm, or he'd have trouble walking
because of muscle stiffness or severe shaking in his legs.
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![]() Medication helps reduce the shaking, and doctors told Fox he probably has 10 more years of relatively normal life before the symptoms would start interfering with his day-to-day activities. A drug developed in the 1960s called levodopa (L-dopa) was the first drug used to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. It helps boost dopamine in the brain because it can cross the blood-brain barrier. Other drugs block acetylcholine and aim to restore the dopamine-acetylcholine balance. Now there are numerous drugs, many of which are used in combination for a better effect. Unfortunately, many of the drugs become less effective over time. Therefore, as the disease progresses, there are fewer treatment options. |
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Fox has a lot to fight for: a wife of 10 years, Tracy Pollan (also an actor), a nine-year-old son, and three-year-old twin girls. |
For more about Michael J. Fox and
Parkinson's disease, see:
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