Greater than a decade after retiring from soccer, Brett Favre says he has Parkinson’s illness.
Favre advised a congressional listening to Tuesday that he had been lately recognized. There are almost 90,000 new Parkinson’s instances annually within the U.S., in accordance with the Parkinson’s Basis.
Listed below are some questions and solutions concerning the illness:
What’s Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s is a neurologic illness that robs folks of management over their actions. It usually begins with tremors, and is characterised by sluggish motion, a shuffling gait, stiff limbs, stability issues and slurred speech.
Who will get it?
About 1 million People live with Parkinson’s, and 10 million folks worldwide, the muse estimates. It normally seems after age 60, though generally it could possibly develop earlier than age 50.
What causes it?
The precise trigger isn’t recognized however Parkinson’s develops when cells that produce one of many mind’s chemical messengers, known as dopamine, start to deteriorate and die. Dopamine transports alerts to components of the mind that management motion. Parkinson’s signs seem after sufficient dopamine-producing cells die that there’s too little of this neurotransmitter within the mind.
Based on the muse, most specialists imagine genetic and environmental elements are behind the illness. Dozens of gene mutations linked to Parkinson’s have been found and genetics account for 10 to fifteen% of all Parkinson’s, the group says. Different elements suspected of accelerating the danger embrace head accidents, publicity to pesticides and herbicides and the place you reside. Favre mentioned on a radio present in 2022 that he estimates he could have skilled “hundreds” of concussions in his 20 years within the NFL.
Is there a treatment?
There is no such thing as a treatment however there are therapies, together with medicines that have an effect on dopamine ranges and a surgically implanted tremor-blocking machine. Sufferers can also profit from bodily and occupational remedy.
What’s the prognosis?
Signs worsen over time, normally slowly. The severity of signs, and the way shortly they progress, varies broadly between sufferers. In superior instances, folks could also be unable to stroll or take care of themselves. In addition they can endure from despair, in addition to reminiscence and considering issues.
Whereas Parkinson’s itself isn’t thought-about deadly, folks can die from problems of the illness, together with lung issues as muscle weak point impedes the flexibility to cough and to swallow.
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The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives assist from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group. The AP is solely liable for all content material.
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