Soccer legend Brett Favre, 54, introduced on Tuesday that he has been identified with Parkinson’s illness.
The NFL Corridor of Famer referenced the analysis whereas talking at a congressional listening to on federal welfare reform, throughout which he talked about his funding in an organization making a “breakthrough concussion drug.”
Favre, who spent 16 of his 20 NFL seasons with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, has overtly mentioned experiencing “1000’s” of concussions over the course of his soccer profession.
NFL LEGEND BRETT FAVRE ANNOUNCES HE HAS PARKINSON’S DISEASE
What’s Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s illness (PD) is a neurodegenerative dysfunction that impacts motion, resulting in tremors, stiffness, sluggish gait, stability points and different signs.
Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre testifies earlier than the Home Methods and Means Committee on the Longworth Home Workplace Constructing on Sept. 24, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Getty Photographs)
Non-motor signs can embrace despair, anxiousness, hallucinations, apathy, sleep problems, lack of odor, digestive points and orthostatic hypotension (a sudden drop in blood strain when standing up), in keeping with the Parkinson’s Basis.
Practically a million individuals are residing with the illness within the U.S., and a projected 1.2 million may have obtained diagnoses by 2030.
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There isn’t any one identified explanation for Parkinson’s illness, however there are elements that would improve danger. For many circumstances of the illness, the trigger is unknown.
An individual who’s identified with out trigger has what is named idiopathic Parkinson’s illness, in keeping with Healthline.
Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Inexperienced Bay Packers seems on from the sideline throughout a recreation in opposition to the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on Nov. 19, 1995, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Getty Photographs)
The danger will increase with age, however about 4% of sufferers are identified earlier than turning 50.
Males are at a better danger, and are 1.5 instances extra more likely to be identified than girls, per the Basis.
Whereas there isn’t a remedy for PD, sufferers can generally handle their signs with medicines, surgical procedure and way of life adjustments.
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The principle remedy used to alleviate Parkinson’s signs is levodopa, which helps to replenish dopamine within the mind, in keeping with the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH).
Some individuals are additionally prescribed dopamine agonists, enzyme inhibitors, amantadine and anticholinergic medication, the supply said.
Signs or development of the illness might be worse for athletes who’ve skilled concussions or different head accidents, a neurologist confirmed. (iStock)
A nutritious diet, train, therapeutic massage remedy and bodily, occupational and speech therapies may also assist with signs associated to Parkinson’s illness.
Whereas Parkinson’s will not be immediately deadly, problems of the illness are rated because the 14th explanation for loss of life within the nation, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).
The concussion connection
Dr. Joey Gee, a neurologist with Windfall Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California, mentioned it’s well-established that many neurological problems — predominantly neurodegenerative problems — can worsen or develop because of quite a few head traumas and accidents over time.
“This may embrace the whole lot from Alzheimer’s illness to Lou Gehrig’s illness, however plenty of emphasis has been on the event of Parkinson’s illness,” Gee advised Fox Information Digital.
“We all know that persistent trauma to the mind may cause inflammatory adjustments and vascular disturbances.”
“We all know that persistent trauma to the mind may cause inflammatory adjustments and vascular disturbances.”
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In relation to Parkinson’s illness, it may well trigger a disruption of an inflammatory protein known as alpha-synuclein, he mentioned.
In folks with Parkinson’s, that protein varieties into clumps within the spinal fluid known as Lewy our bodies, which is a marker of the illness.
Many neurological problems can worsen or develop because of quite a few head traumas and accidents over time, a neurologist mentioned. (Getty Photographs)
“After which you may even see early indicators or signs associated to Parkinson’s illness,” the neurologist famous.
Signs or development of the illness might be worse for athletes who’ve skilled concussions or different head accidents, Gee confirmed.
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“A variety of scientific reviews present that sufferers who’ve acquired Parkinson’s-related options from trauma might current earlier and should have extra important signs than these with Parkinson’s illness who didn’t have a head damage,” he advised Fox Information Digital.
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“So there’s a important potential for earlier improvement in signs and irritation of the mind.”
Fox Information Digital reached out to Favre’s representatives for remark.
Fox Information’ Ryan Morik and Ashlyn Messier contributed reporting.