Michael J Fox says Parkinson’s disease could have started from ‘damage’ of 1980s parties

Back to the Future star Michael J Fox has admitted it’s “very possible” he “did some damage” in the 80s as he opened up about his struggles with Parkinson’s in a recent interview.

Theactor has lived with Parkinson’s for more than 30 years, being diagnosed with the brain disorder at just 29 years old.

But the 61-year-old revealed it’s getting “tougher” every day to deal with the incurable disease, which causes uncontrollable tremors, stiffness and balance problems.

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In an interview with Jane Pauley for CBS, Fox speculated about what may have led to the devastating diagnosis.

Pauley questioned the actor about a speech he’d made last year while accepting an honorary Oscar from fellow Hollywood star Woody Harrelson.

While accepting the award, Fox told the crowd that the pair — who are reported to have once drank cobra blood together in Thailand — “did some damage” together during the peak of his career.

He said: “We did some damage. We did some damage in the 80s”.

Questioning him about whether his wild actions in the 80s could have caused his health issues, Pauley asked Fox: “Is it possible you did some damage?”

“Yeah, very possible,” he responded.

But the actor revealed there could have been many moments that triggered the disease.

He explained: “I mean, there’s so many ways that you can… that I could’ve hurt myself. I could’ve hit my head. I could’ve drank too much at a certain developmental period.”

Revealing the most probable cause, he added: “Most likely I think is, that I was exposed to some kind of chemical. What we say is that genetics loads the gun and environment pulls the trigger.”

Fox’s role in the hit 80s sitcom Family Ties saw his acting career take off and soon he was one of the biggest names in Hollywood, starring in both Teen Wolf and Back to the Future in 1985.

But while filming for the rom-com Doc Hollywood in 1991, Fox noticed something was wrong when he developed a tremor in his pinky finger.

After a consultation with a neurologist, the actor was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease but kept the diagnosis a secret from the public until 1998, when he could no longer hide the symptoms.

Fox has now lived with Parkinson’s for more than half his life, opening up about what the past three decades have been like he told Pauley: “30 plus years, there’s not many of us who’ve had the disease for 30 years…It sucks, it sucks having Parkinson’s.

“For some families, some people it’s a nightmare, it’s a living hell. We have to deal with realities that are beyond most people’s understandings.”

Fox revealed he doesn’t believe he’ll make it to 80 years old, adding: “It’s getting harder, it’s getting tougher. Every day you suffer.”

In 2000 the actor launched The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which has now raised over $1.75 billion dollars towards research for a cure.

Last month, the foundation announced a “significant breakthrough” in the search for a Parkinson’s biomarker with a new test that can deliver a diagnosis before symptoms begin.

Fox said the discovery provides a new hope, he explained: “It changes everything. I know with where we are right now, in five years they will be able to tell if they have it, be able to tell if they’re gonna get it. We’ll know how to treat it.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk