Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre just recently revealed his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, marking a tragic pivot in his life. He attended a congressional hearing about welfare funds in Mississippi, concerning a scandal of $77 million taken away from a program for needy families (jsonline).
In an emotional turn of events, he claimed, “Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others. 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” (ESPN). This was the first time he revealed his diagnosis, and football fans across the nation were shocked.
Parkinson’s disease is a disorder that impacts the nervous system. The cause of Parkinson’s is unknown, but many symptoms come from a loss of neurons which decreases dopamine – the pleasure hormone – in the brain. It is especially prevalent in men, but more specifically football players because they are constantly experiencing collisions that have a major impact on their heads. Some symptoms include tremors, slowed movement, rigid muscles, poor balance, loss of automatic movements such as blinking, changes in speech, and lower life expectancy (Mayo Clinic). As of now, there is no cure for the disease (nih.gov).
Mrs. Deamer, a math teacher at Ramapo, says, “It was disheartening to hear of Brett Favre’s recent Parkinson’s diagnosis. Hopefully this news will encourage researchers to continue to study the effects of repeated concussions on athletes, find ways to minimize concussions in heavy-contact sports like football and boxing, and possibly find a cure or treatments to slow the progression of this terrible disease.” Although no cures exist, researchers are currently studying the outcomes of treatments such as physical therapy and medications to increase dopamine (nih.gov).
Mrs. Deamer continues, “Having witnessed the effects of Parkinson’s with two of my family members, I’ve seen how awful and debilitating this disease can be and my heart goes out to the Favre family.” Devastatingly, the disease impacts not only the heartbreaking 1,000,000 Americans who have it, but also their families and friends.
Junior Kirsten Seyffer comments, “It’s really sad to see that someone so admired has to go through such a difficult time.” However, Favre is not without support. Jordan Lowe, quarterback for the Packers, was seen wearing Favre’s jersey in tribute to his battle against Parkinson’s. In response, Favre posted on social media platform X that he appreciated the gesture (nypost.com).
We truly hope that Favre and his family remain strong in the face of this tragic news, and that scientists will continue to study the disease to help those who are suffering.
