NFL Corridor of Famer Brett Favre was just lately recognized with Parkinson’s illness. The 54-year-old shared the information on Tuesday throughout a sworn statement at a congressional listening to on federal welfare reform.
The listening to was held to debate guardrails for distributing Non permanent Help for Needy Households funds, which distributed tens of millions to Favre’s alma mater, the College of Southern Mississippi, and Prevacus, a drug firm he backed that’s not in existence.
“Sadly, I additionally misplaced my funding in an organization that I believed was growing a breakthrough concussion drug I assumed would assist others,” Favre mentioned. “As I’m positive you’ll perceive, whereas it’s too late for me — I’ve just lately been recognized with Parkinson’s — that is additionally a trigger expensive to my coronary heart.”
Favre performed in 20 NFL seasons and beforehand shared on The Bubba Military radio present that he sustained “1000’s” of concussions throughout his soccer profession. “Each time my head hit the turf, there was ringing or stars going, flash bulbs, however I used to be nonetheless capable of play,” he mentioned within the interview. “That’s what’s form of scary in regards to the concussion factor. It’s those that appear minor that do the injury, since you’re capable of preserve going, and nonetheless at present there’s in all probability guys which have them, they’re [saying] ‘I’m not going out.’” Favre additionally produced the brand new Apple TV film Concussed: The American Dream.
Favre’s revelation has raised loads of questions on Parkinson’s illness, together with a possible connection to concussions. Right here’s what neurologists need you to know.
What’s Parkinson’s illness?
Parkinson’s illness is a mind dysfunction that causes signs reminiscent of unintended or uncontrollable actions, together with shaking, stiffness and bother with stability and coordination, in accordance with the Nationwide Institute on Getting older (NIA). “One of many key options of the illness is slowness in motion,” Dr. Gian Pal, a neurologist and motion problems specialist at Rutgers Well being Robert Wooden Johnson Medical Faculty, tells Yahoo Life. “There can be stiffness, stability issues and tremors, however transferring slowly is frequent.”
The illness, which actor Michael J. Fox additionally has, is progressive, which means signs worsen over time. About 500,000 Individuals are recognized with Parkinson’s illness, though the Nationwide Institute of Neurological Issues and Stroke (NINDS) says the precise variety of those that have it’s doubtless a lot increased.
What causes Parkinson’s illness?
The precise explanation for Parkinson’s illness is unknown. Nevertheless, there are just a few danger components linked with the event of the illness. In keeping with Johns Hopkins Drugs, these embody:
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Age. Most individuals develop the situation as they become old, with 60 being the common age of onset.
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Gender. Males usually tend to develop the situation than girls.
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Genetics. These with a mother or father or sibling with Parkinson’s illness are two instances as prone to develop the situation.
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Environmental causes. These embody publicity to pesticides and herbicides; working with heavy metals, detergents and solvents; and being uncovered to Agent Orange in the course of the Vietnam Warfare period.
Can concussions increase your danger of Parkinson’s illness?
That’s not solely clear at this level. Analysis has discovered a hyperlink between head trauma and the danger of growing Parkinson’s illness. One examine printed within the journal Neurology discovered that even having a gentle mind damage raised the danger of growing Parkinson’s illness by as much as 56%. One other examine printed within the journal Household Drugs and Neighborhood Well being discovered that individuals who had skilled a concussion have been 57% extra prone to develop Parkinson’s illness.
“There’s a potential hyperlink,” says Dr. Daniel Truong, a neurologist and medical director of the Truong Neuroscience Institute at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Middle in Fountain Valley, Calif.
However Parkinson’s illness is a sophisticated situation, and never everybody who has a concussion goes on to develop the illness, Pal factors out. “The affiliation isn’t conclusive. It warrants additional analysis,” he says.
“Parkinson’s illness is linked with increased ranges of tau, a protein, within the mind,” Dr. Amit Sachdev, medical director within the Division of Neurology at Michigan State College, tells Yahoo Life. “It’s exhausting to know for positive if concussion is related to elevated tau and, in that case, if this deposits on the mind in a sample to trigger the illness.”
Pal additionally notes {that a} JAMA examine that was launched final 12 months discovered that taking part in soccer was linked with a larger likelihood of getting a analysis of parkinsonism (a gaggle of situations that trigger comparable Parkinson’s-like signs) or a Parkinson’s illness analysis — and the chances have been larger the longer an individual performed the game. Nonetheless, this hyperlink isn’t definitive. “Enjoying soccer is perhaps a danger issue for Parkinson’s, however the proof continues to be blended,” Pal says.
Parkinson’s illness signs
Signs of the illness can range by individual, however the NIA says these are the 4 essential signs of Parkinson’s:
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Tremor in arms, arms, legs, jaw or head
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Muscle stiffness
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Slowness of motion
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Hassle with stability and coordination
Folks with Parkinson’s illness may expertise despair and different emotional modifications; bother swallowing, chewing and talking; urinary points; constipation and pores and skin points, in accordance with the NIA.
How is Parkinson’s illness recognized?
There are not any blood or lab assessments used to diagnose nongenetic Parkinson’s illness. Consequently, medical doctors will normally give a analysis based mostly on medical historical past and a neurologic examination, in accordance with the NIA. They might additionally attempt a brief, low-dose remedy of medicines used to deal with Parkinson’s illness to see if signs enhance, in accordance with the Mayo Clinic. Nevertheless, “that’s not required for analysis,” Pal says.
Parkinson’s illness therapies
“One of many essential points with Parkinson’s illness is that there’s low dopamine within the mind — that causes loads of the bodily signs of the illness,” Pal says. “We now have good medicines to switch that dopamine.”
However, within the early phases of the illness, Pal says that somebody might not want remedy. As an alternative, a affected person and their physician will sometimes resolve collectively if the signs are disabling sufficient that they want treatment. “If it’s inflicting practical limitations of their day, then they might take into consideration treatment,” he says.
Except for treatment, bodily exercise can be useful for managing signs, Pal says.
If you happen to’re having signs of Parkinson’s illness, Pal recommends getting an analysis with a motion dysfunction specialist as quickly as attainable to see if it might be the illness or one thing else solely. “Then they’ll higher perceive what the long-term outlook would appear to be,” he says.
“Parkinson’s is a progressive dysfunction with many options,” provides Sachdev. “Early analysis is essential.”
Pal stresses that there are medicines and coverings to assist. “Typically, Parkinson’s is a gradual, progressive illness,” he says. “We now have loads of therapies out there.”