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    • What you need to know about Parkinson’s disease
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    What you need to know about Parkinson’s disease

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    Brett Favre announced during testimony before the Congressional House Ways and Means Committee that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback appeared before the committee as part of an investigation into a massive lawsuit in Mississippi involving his involvement with Prevacus, a company that makes a drug to treat concussions.

    “I also unfortunately lost an investment in a company that I thought was developing a breakthrough drug for concussions that I thought would help others,” Favre said. “I’m sure you can understand that it’s too late for me, having recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but that this is also a cause that is close to my heart.”

    ‘A cause close to my heart’: Brett Favre Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis During Congressional Hearing

    What you need to know about Parkinson’s disease:

    What is Parkinson’s disease?

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes problems with movement, mental health, sleep, pain and other health problems. The WHO does not know the cause of Parkinson’s, but family history increases the risk, and the organization also notes that exposure to pesticides, air pollution and solvents can also increase the risk.

    Younger people can have Parkinson’s, but it usually occurs in older adults. It is also more common in men than women.

    Parkinson’s disease symptoms, treatment

    The most visible symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are motor symptoms, including tremors, difficulty walking, involuntary movements, stiffness and unbalance, according to the WHO. Other symptoms include dementia, sleep disorders, mental disorders and cognitive impairment.

    There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. Instead, therapies can be used to reduce symptoms and their impact on daily life. The WHO lists levodopa/carbidopa – a drug that increases dopamine in the brain – as the most popular drug for Parkinson’s disease. Deep brain stimulation can also help reduce tremors and the need for medication, the WHO says.

    Rehabilitation can also improve quality of life. Strength training, hydrotherapy, and gait and balance training are the top options cited by the WHO.

    The Parkinson’s Foundation is leading the global study “PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson’s Disease” to help people understand their risk of developing the disease. Participation is free and the Parkinson’s Foundation aims to accelerate research and clinical trials with this study.

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    Famous people diagnosed with Parkinson’s

    Favre is the latest of many celebrities to have a confirmed diagnosis of Parkinson’s. Perhaps the most visible celebrity is Michael J. Fox, who announced his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 1998 and created the Michael J. Fox Foundation to invest in research for a cure.

    According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s include:

    • Alan Alda (diagnosed in 2015)
    • Mohammed Ali (1984)
    • Neil Diamond (2018)
    • Reverend Jesse Jackson (2015)
    • Richard Lewis (2021)
    • Ozzy Osbourne (2019)
    • Pope John Paul II (1991)
    • Linda Ronstadt (2012)

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