NFL Hall Of Fame Quarterback Brett Favre Announces Parkinson’s Diagnosis
Hall Of Fame quarterback, Brett Favre announced during a congressional hearing on Tuesday that he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
The diagnosis is described as a degenerative nervous system disorder that causes parts of the brain to deteriorate and affects movement.
The announcement came out as Favre expressed his disappointment due to the lost of the investment associated with the company Prevacus, a company making a drug to treat concussions that received $2 million of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds.
Favre was the top investor in Prevacus and text messages show he began asking state officials for help securing funds for the company in November 2018.
“Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others,” Favre said during opening remarks. “And I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s too late for me, because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. This is also a cause dear to my heart.”
The founder of the company pleaded guilty to wire fraud in July, admitting that he used the money to pay off debts including gambling fees.
The announced diagnosis is having impacts beyond the committee chamber.
“I think it’s it really brings about awareness, questioning, googling, wondering, you know, gosh, Brett Favre has this.
How did he get Parkinson’s?” asked Anne Marie Worman.
Worman is the executive director at Parkinson Association of the Carolinas, an organization that provides resources to those diagnosed with the disease. She says when a celebrity’s diagnosis becomes public it opens up conversation.
Novant Health neurologist, Dr. Robert Wiggins, is preparing for more people to reach out about Parkinson’s because of the news.
“I do expect that over the next few days, weeks, months, we may feel we might may have more referrals of people saying, hey, could this be Parkinson’s disease? And I would say that’s a good thing,” said Dr. Wiggins.
Dr. Wiggins says Parkinson’s can be caused by several factors including genetics, toxic exposure and traumatic brain injuries. Favre has a long history of concussions.
“That makes us all wonder, okay, could that be the link for him? And then also, could that be the link for me in the future?” asked Dr. Wiggins.
Dr. Wiggins says when he’s diagnosing Parkinson’s Disease he’s looking for a few key signs like if a person is moving slower than normal, a specific type of tremor and often times a stiffness in the hands.
