Michael J. Fox Faces Parkinson's Disease

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Parkinson’s Disease

Michael Jay Fox is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. In the year 1991, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Being a movie star and dealing with such a disease was not easy to hide, but this past year in the T.V. sitcom “The Michael Jay Fox Show,” he is able to stop hiding Parkinson’s disease from the spotlight. If you watch an episode, right away you are able to pick up on specific habits he endures. Mr. Fox is a face for the manifestation of this disease, as he spreads the awareness of Parkinson’s disease.
Many people, like myself, after watching an episode of “The Michael Jay Fox Show,” started to be come curious as to what exactly this disease is. You ask yourself; What is this disease? What causes it? Can it be passed down from generation to generation? Is there a treatment? What would your life be like suffering from this? Through my research on Parkinson’s disease, I am determined to answer these questions. I hope to have a better understanding on this disease, and how it affects the lives of patients that I might see in a hospital.
What exactly is Parkinson’s disease? It is a disease of the nervous system; it falls into a group of conditions called motor system disorders. The initial symptoms are normally tremors of a limb, especially when the body is resting. Bradykinesia, akinesia, and postural inability are also symptoms that occur. These symptoms will worsen over time (Genetics Home Reference).
Parkinson’s disease can come in two forms; there is a late-onset disease, and early-onset disease. Generally, the disease will begin after the age of 50, being the late-onset. In the early-onset cases, they can begin as early as the age of 20, and can be referred to as a juvenile-onset case...

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...ions, deep brain stimulation and therapies, doctors are prepared to help the patient prepare for the road ahead (“Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research). Although researchers are working hard to find a cure, the future for patients with this disease is not bright. We can only hope that one day there will be a discovery to help those suffering from this disease.

Works Cited

"About Parkinson's Disease." Research Is The Key to A Cure. The Michael Stern Research Foundation, n.d. Web. 10 Jan 2014. .

"Parkinson Disease." Genetics Home Reference. Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications, n.d. Web. May 2012. .

"Parkinson's Disease Causes." Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Feb 2013.
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