Muhammad Ali's first Parkinson’s signs
Muhammad Ali, one of the world’s most celebrated boxer, died in 2016 from Parkinson’s disease. While Ali was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 42, his daughter Maryum Ali recently shared how the iconic star showed early symptoms of the condition during a fight with Leon Spinks in 1978. Back then, he was 36 years old.
Ali, 53, revealed that the star’s speech was slurring, which is a common sign of Parkinson’s disease. “I was so little [during the fight]. I remember seeing a difference in his speech when he fought Leon Spinks the second time actually,” she told Spectrum NY News.
She added that they believed the disease was going to be short-lived as there was a lack of research.
“A lot wasn’t known about Parkinson’s back then, as it is now. We have great research now. People know what it is. Great therapies. But back then he was kind of lost and was told he had Parkinson’s syndrome and then it wouldn’t progress… but it did,” she said.
What is Parkinson's disease
Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that affects the nervous system. Its symptoms occur because of low dopamine levels in the brain. As the disease progresses, people may have mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue. The risk of developing Parkinson’s disease increases with age. Moreover, it is more common in men than in women. Several environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins, may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
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Common signs
Parkinson's disease signs and symptoms can be different for everyone. The symptoms start gradually, sometimes with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, your arms may not swing when you walk. Your speech may become slurred and you may also have balance and posture problems. You may also find difficulty while writing. As Parkinson's disease progresses, the symptoms expand and intensify.
Prevention plan
Since the cause of Parkinson's is not clearly known, there are no proven ways yet to help prevent the disease. Some research has shown that regular aerobic exercise might reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease. Other research has found that people who consume caffeine (which is found in coffee, tea and cola) get Parkinson's disease less often than those who don't drink it. However, there is not enough evidence to suggest caffeinated drinks protect against the disease.
Treatment
Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured, medications might improve the symptoms and help in managing problems with walking, movement and tremor. Doctors may recommend lifestyle changes, such as doing aerobic exercise. A speech-language pathologist may help to improve speech problems. Doctors may also suggest surgery to regulate certain regions of the brain and improve the symptoms.