Episode 115: Michael J Fox, ‘Still’ and Parkinson’s Disease

Doctor Vs Comedian

On today’s episode the guys discuss superstar actor Michael J Fox and the new documentary on his life, ‘Still’ (0:52). The guys start off with the discussion with the story behind the “J” in Michael's name and his early life in British Colombia. They then discuss when they first encountered him in the NBC sitcom ‘Family Ties’. Asif and Ali then discuss Fox’s breakthrough in ‘Back to the Future’, as well as his other hit films. They then discuss his return to television with ‘Spin City’ and how his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease at age 29 factored into this. They then discuss their thoughts on the new documentary on Fox’s life ‘Still’, directed by Davis Guggenheim.

Then the guys discuss Parkinson’s disease (27:02). Asif talks about what we know about the cause, the primary symptoms and how it is diagnosed. He then discusses the treatment how the the side effects from Parkinson’s disease medications can cause their own problems. Asif then goes over surgery for Parkinson’s, including deep brain stimulation. He then discuss a major scientific breakthrough in Parksonson’s disease via research funded by the Michael J Fox Foundation.

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Music courtesy of Wataboi and 8er41 from Pixabay

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Show Notes:

• Michael J. Fox Looks Back on Hollywood Triumphs, Setbacks and Why ‘Parkinson’s Is the Gift That Keeps on Taking”: https://variety.com/2023/film/features/michael-j-fox-parkinsons-disease-still-documentary-1235607552/
• Making a Michael J. Fox Movie With Michael J. Fox’s Movies: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/14/movies/michael-j-fox-interview.html
• Billy Vera - At This Moment (HQ): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2ur063fMhs
• Parkinson Disease: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1831191-overview
• Michael J. Fox, three co-workers at 70s TV show, all got Parkinson's: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/michael-j-fox-three-co-workers-at-70s-tv-show-all-got-parkinson-s-1.339756
• Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Hearing on Parkinson's Research and Treatment September 28, 1999
• The Testimony of Michael J. Fox: https://media.pluto.psy.uconn.edu/parkinsons/foxhearing.html
• The Michael J Fox Foundation: https://www.michaeljfox.org/
• Breaking News: Parkinson's Disease Biomarker Found: https://www.michaeljfox.org/news/breaking-news-parkinsons-disease-biomarker-found?pn_cid=pn-a1b1R00000AlQ16
• A Parkinson’s ‘game changer,’ backed by Michael J. Fox, could lead to new diagnostics and, someday, treatments: https://www.statnews.com/2023/04/12/michael-j-fox-parkinsons-biomarker/
• Assessment of heterogeneity among participants in the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative cohort using α-synuclein seed amplification: a cross-sectional study: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(23)00109-6/fulltext