Michael J. Fox spoke about the day he first noticed Parkinson’s symptoms: ‘It was a message’

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The documentary Still: A Movie About Michael J. Fox hit Apple TV on Friday to bring audiences little-known details about the Back to the Future star’s life before and after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991.

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In a section of the film, Fox talks about what – in his case – the first symptoms of his illness were. Interestingly, the 61-year-old actor he started noticing them after a night out with his colleague Woody Harrelson.

Fox said that when he woke up in the morning, he saw that his little finger was moving by itself. “I woke up with a vicious hangover, realizing that my little finger had perked up. For God’s sake, it’s just your fucking finger. Did I hit my head?”

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Michael J. Fox is 61 years old.  Photo: GETTY NORTH AMERICA via AFP/

Michael J. Fox is 61 years old. Photo: GETTY NORTH AMERICA via AFP/

“The tape of the night before’s events was fuzzy at best. Woody Harrelson was at the bar the night before. Maybe we’d had one of our legendary drunken fights? But he didn’t remember any fights. I found myself in an acid bath of fear and professional insecurity,” said the Back to the Future actor.

The trembling was a message. Not even the most paranoid fantasy that occurred to me could have prepared me for the words the neurologist said to me that day: Parkinson’s disease,” Fox continued.

“I replied, ‘You know who you’re talking to, don’t you? I’m not someone this should happen to. He said a few more words like “progressive, degenerative, incurable.” He added: ‘You lose it. You lose this game. This is not won’. I remember standing on the street looking for an answer. My world has exploded. I should have seen it coming, the cosmic price I had to pay for all my success.”

a movie life

Fox was 29 when diagnosed with the disease. From then on his life was dominated by alcohol and pills until, with the help of his wife of 35 years, Tracy Pollanwas able to get out.

Michael J. Fox (right) in Back to the Future.

Michael J. Fox (right) in Back to the Future.

Michael became famous thanks to the series Family tiesbut his surname rose to worldwide fame with the sci-fi comedy trilogy, Back to the Future.

While promoting the documentary, Fox emphasized that Still is a production with a sense of humor.

“Of course, everything in life has its share of stress or despondency or sadness, but I’m interested in looking for the fun part of thingshumor is universally human and that’s very powerful,” Fox explains in a virtual talk about his documentary, which arrives on the Apple TV platform this Friday.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the nervous system that affects movement because the brain doesn’t make enough dopamine.

According to the European Parkinson’s Disease Association, it usually starts around age 60, but in some cases it can appear earlier. Also, it is usually much more common in men than in women. There is currently no definitive cure, but there are treatments that improve people’s symptoms and quality of life for a long time.

The life expectancy of a person with Parkinson’s disease can be similar to that of a healthy person if the correct treatment is given. It can be 10 to 20 years after its diagnosis, in which the quality of life is good.

Source: Clarin

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