Brett Favre announced his diagnosis on Tuesday, September 24th. Here’s what we know about the disease and its relationship to head injuries.
Who is at risk of Parkinson’s disease?
Genetic mutations are linked to about 10 to 15 percent of Parkinson’s diagnoses, said Dr. Michael S. Okun, a neurologist at the University of Florida.
Environmental and other factors are at play much more often. Farmers who worked with pesticides and factory workers exposed to toxic chemicals are at greater risk of developing Parkinson’s, he said.
Can head injuries like concussions cause Parkinson’s?
A traumatic blow to the head, with or without loss of consciousness, may also increase a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s, research has found. This link gained popular attention after the boxer Muhammad Ali was diagnosed at age 42 in 1984. There’s growing evidence that head trauma and concussion are associated with a higher risk of developing the disease, said Dr. Okun, who was on Mr. Ali’s team of specialists.