Causes of Parkinson’s Disease
The major causes of the disorder are:
- genetic mutations;
- environmental factors.
Michael Fox was suffering from a neurological disorder called Parkinson’s disease. In normal circumstances, it should occur that there was a disease or neurological disorder that took place before Fox was diagnosed with this problem to interrupt his individual ability. Therefore, it should be known that the exact cause of the disorder that impaired Fox’s individual ability was unknown (Brockes, 2009, p. 23).
As much as the exact cause of the disorder was not known, research pointed to a number of possible causes. Most notably, all possible options pointed to a number of combinations that revolved around environmental and genetic factors. This means that other patients who had been diagnosed with this disorder would also fall along this continuum. As much as these were the possible causes of the disorder a number of rare instances were caused by a single genetic mutation.
Everything pointed to the fact that this disorder could be passed on from generation to generation thereby causing the disease. As much as this was the case, there were other arguments that the disorder was largely as a result of environmental factors. Fox was diagnosed with this chronic neurological disorder that was not well connected with what was being explained as far as known causes were concerned.
Causes of Fox’s Disease
- According to Keveney (2004) the exact cause of Fox’s disease was as a result of exposure to environmental and chemical toxin.
- There are some other viewpoints concerning genetic factors.
- However, the theories cannot be conclusively proven.
The events that led to the diagnosis of this disorder were scanted because Fox had led a private life after being diagnosed with the disease before he made it public (Keveney, 2004, p. 56). As much as the disease affected his individual ability, its exact cause as far as Fox is concerned was not known. Most people however believe that the exact cause of Fox’s disease was as a result of exposure to environmental and chemical toxin. As much as this is a claim, it cannot be conclusively proven.
Symptoms
Fox started exhibiting and displaying the symptoms of the disease in the early 1990s (Keveney, 2004). The symptoms included:
- slowness of movement;
- rigidity and shaking that was followed by difficulty in walking;
- sleep and emotional problems;
- tremor.
It should be known that there were some behaviors that were exhibited by Fox after being diagnosed with the disorder. After being diagnosed with the disease, Fox was not able to reconnect with himself in the initial stages. Fox started exhibiting and displaying the symptoms of the disease in the early 1990s (Keveney, 2004, p. 56). This was when he was shooting a movie.
As a matter of fact, it should be known that he was not properly diagnosed until the next year. After going public about the disease, there were strong signs that he was starting to discover himself because he later on became a strong advocate of research on the disease. As a matter of fact, he was dedicated to fund a solution to the disease through his foundation that was advancing a promising path to a good cure. There was some initial behavior that was exhibited by Fox in the early stages of the disease. Most notably, Fox had some movement problems like slowness of movement.
In addition, there was rigidity and shaking that was followed by difficulty in walking. In the later stages, Fox had some behavioral problems which can explain why he started drinking heavily after (Brockes, 2009, p. 61). There were cases where Fox could have sleep and emotional problems. Tremor was the most common behavior because it mostly developed as time went by. His performance as far as movements are concerned was hindered in a broad way. As much as there was some other unique behavior that was seen, Fox was able to adapt in a good way.
Behaviors
- After being diagnosed with the disorder, Fox started drinking (Brockes, 2009).
- After admitting that he had the disease, he was able to compose himself well and stand up to the challenges that came with the disorder.
- Setting up the Michael Fox foundation to deal with the disease, he became a good advocate of research that could give a good cause towards it (Keveney, 2004).
After being diagnosed with the disorder, Fox was not himself as he started drinking than ever before. As time went by, he was able to seek help and thereby stopped drinking altogether.
After composing himself well and admitting that he had the disease, he was able to compose himself well and stand up to the challenges that came with the disorder. This can be explained from the fact that he became a good advocate of research that could give a good cause towards it. In a broad perspective, Fox was able to manage the symptoms of the disease by using a drug called Sinemet. Later on, he was able to have a thalamotomy that helped him in a great way. In the initial years, he had not accepted that he had the disease which can explain why he was drinking heavily.
Setting up the Michael Fox foundation to deal with the disease was a good step in the right direction because it showed that he had accepted to live with it (Keveney, 2004, p. 76). There were occasions when Fox could not take his medication because of frustration which affected him in a broad way. The disorder could cause disturbances that ranged from speech, mood, cognition and behavior. Speech was big problem beacsue it is quite obvious that an actor cannot express himself well on set with speech problems.
Fox’s deficits
- Fox could not be seen in public places.
- Fox had a lot of dexterity problems.
- Fox eventually ended up saying goodbye to television.
- Fox was on a collision path with many people he interacted with because of speech slurring.
It should be understood that Michael Fox had problems in admitting that he had been diagnosed with the disease which means that he ended up having individual deficits. Most notably, he could not be seen in public places which can explain why he started drinking. After being diagnosed with the disease, Fox had a lot of dexterity problems that affected him in a broad way.
As much as it did not stop him from doing his things, he eventually ended up saying goodbye to television. Fox had problems with initiating conversations which was not good for somebody who was occasionally acting on screen. As a matter of fact, Fox was drinking more heavily than in the past which means that he was not always himself in different occasions (Keveney, 2004, p. 36). There are occasions when his body could shake which meant that he did not want people to notice it. In the process, he could end up being violent which can be said to be an individual deficit.
Speech slurring was a notable problem that Fox had as a result of the disease but this made him to be on a collision path with many people he interacted with. This was mostly in the initial stages before he accepted that he had been diagnosed with the disease. Fox felt that he was being driven to achieve different things as far as his career is concerned, yet this was not the case. This is what led to addiction problems that Fox was experiencing in his life as far as drinking and alcohol are concerned. Taking medication for different symptoms was a problem to him before he made it public that he was suffering form the disease.
This was a very big problem because there was no way that he could live with the disease without being treated. As much as he was a good crusader and advocate for more research to be done, there were reservations on how he treated people based on the symptoms that came about as a result of the disease (Brockes, 2009, p. 48). Individual deficits that come about as a result of the disease are expected everywhere which means that people who live around such patients should be understanding and accommodative.
Treatment
- Treatment options for the disorder were rather limited.
- He was using a drug called Sinemet to manage the symptoms of the disease (Brockes, 2009).
- Scarcity of treatment options made Fox end up with a foundation that could dedicate itself to find a good solution.
There is no simple way that patients can deal with the disease which means that people are always advised to seek treatment. As much as his foundation was dedicated to research towards the disease, Fox was on treatment to manage the symptoms that came about as a result of the disorder (Parkinson’s disease). He was using a drug called Sinemet to manage the symptoms of the disease. There are supplements that are recommended for patients who have been diagnosed with the disease. In this case, Fox was not left behind as he could also use those supplements to manage the disorder (Brockes, 2009, p. 83).
Treatment options for the disorder were limited and that is why Fox ended up with a foundation that could dedicate itself to find a good solution. There was more focus on research that could come up with innovative treatments because the disease had been neglected by the society as a whole. Fox admitted that he started drinking heavily because he did not know the best way to approach the disease. In fact, he thought that he was suffering from an incurable disease which can explain why he thought that getting sober could not solve his other problems.
Fox sought counseling to supplement the treatment that he was being given as a better way of dealing with the disease. This means that medical treatment was mostly dedicated to mental ills. There was more emphasis on health and medicine as a better way of dealing with the disease (Brockes, 2009, p. 42). In recent years, there have been efforts to come up with some drugs that can help different patients who have the disorder which is commendable.
Research Implications of the Case Study
There are different implications of the research study because it gives us a good insight into the disease.
- Michael Fox has become an eye opener to the whole world in a better way (Keveney, 2004).
- Doctors were able to understand how the brain works because this case gave them an opportunity to explore different things (e.g. posture and depression).
- In fact, different research efforts increased doctors’ understanding of the brain function in one way or the other.
There are different implications of the research study because it gives us a good insight into the disease. Most notably, it should be known that the world was not paying good attention to the disorder prior to the case of Michael Fox. In this case, it did imply that there was more attention to the disease because people were able to know what it was all about. As time went by, there were more concerted efforts to find a good solution because patients who had been diagnosed with the disease needed care and attention (Keveney, 2004, p. 82).
This is what made doctors and researchers dedicate their efforts towards coming up with a long lasting solution to the disease. As much as there is limited information on such endeavors, this is a good step in the right direction. The most notable implication of this study is the fact that people should dedicate their efforts towards this disorder because Michael Fox was able to be an eye opener to the whole world in a better way.
Scientists and doctors were able to understand the disorder well because there was more information that was availed as a result of Michael Fox going public that he was suffering from the disorder. This helped a lot because scientists and doctors were able to dedicate their efforts towards research with an aim of coming up with a long lasting solutions than was the case initially. In this case, it should be known that there was little information about available treatment options that could be administered to patients who had been diagnosed with the disorder. Doctors were able to understand how the brain works because this case gave them an opportunity to explore different things with ease.
For instance, they were able to understand that the brain is interconnected to different problems that come about as a result of the disorder like posture and depression (Keveney, 2004, p. 90). In fact, different research efforts increased their understanding of the brain function in one way or the other. This was a good initiative because doctors were able to understand their patients well by having an overview of how the brain works. In a broad perspective, doctors were able to understand how this disorder is interconnected with the brain. This case study has helped to tackle the disorder and thereby assist many people who would have been neglected.
Reference List
Brockes, E. (2009). It’s the gift that keeps on taking. The Guardian. Web.
Keveney, B. (2004). Michael J. Fox to scrub up twice for Scrubs. Web.