Did J. Fox catch Parkinson's?

[Guest guest]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/health/cst-nws-fox24.html

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Did J. Fox catch Parkinson's? March 24, 2002BY DAVE NEWBART STAFF REPORTER

Coincidence or cluster?

Canadian actor J. Fox, who has battled Parkinson's disease for the past dozen years, is actually one of four members of the cast of a sitcom to later develop the disease, a yet-to-be-aired television documentary reveals.

The possibility that Fox and three co-stars of the short-lived ''Leo and Me'' sitcom, which aired in Canada in 1978, all have Parkinson's has led some experts to ask whether an environmental factor such as a virus could have caused the degenerative brain disease.

But others say past clusters have proved to be coincidental, and say there is very little evidence pointing to what causes the disease, which has been diagnosed in 500,000 people.

Calne, director of the Neurodegenerative Disorder Center at the University of British Columbia Hospital, said the apparent Parkinson's cluster could add credibility to the theory that viral infections could be one of the causes of Parkinson's.

''If the TV documentary is correct, and there are actually four patients with Parkinson's disease from that show, it certainly makes one a bit suspicious,'' said Calne. Calne is treating two patients who worked with Fox, who has had the disease for 12 years.

Calne points to studies that found a greater risk of developing Parkinson's among health workers and teachers--two groups who are often in contact with influenza patients.

Others at higher risk, Calne said, include workers who spend a lot of time in close proximity--including loggers who sleep in bunkhouses.

''This could be because there is an infectious agent,'' he said.

But other experts discount that theory, which has been around since the early1900s. At that time, an epidemic of a particularly severe form of influenza led to an outbreak of people suffering Parkinson's-like symptoms, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Un Jung Kang, an associate professor of neurology at the University of Chicago, said viruses are often suspected for major diseases, but so far there is little research to back it up when it comes to Parkinson's.

" There really hasn't been any evidence that any particular virus is associated with normal Parkinson's,'' he said.

Others discounted the idea that people who live or work closely together are more at risk.

Abe Lieberman, medical director for the National Parkinson Foundation in Miami, said spouses of those suffering from Parkinson's have not been found to be at greater risk of contracting the disease.

" You can find studies that people who spend time with each other are more susceptible to Parkinson's disease and you can find the reverse,'' Lieberman said. " If J. Fox's wife developed Parkinson's disease, I would pay more attention to the cluster theory.''

He added: " Just because there is a cluster does not mean a cause and effect.''

Lieberman said that more recent research shows that 15 percent of Parkinson's patients have a close relative with the disease, suggesting a genetic predisposition that could be triggered by an environmental cause.

But less than 3 percent of patients with Parkinson's or similar symptoms have been traced to such causes, Lieberman said.

Contributing : Sun-Times wires

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[Guest guest]

Barb,

I like Dr. Lieberman's comments:

Abe Lieberman, medical director for the National Parkinson

Foundation in Miami,

said spouses of those suffering from Parkinson's have not been

found to be at

greater risk of contracting the disease.

" You can find studies that people who spend time with each other

are more

susceptible to Parkinson's disease and you can find the

reverse,'' Lieberman said.

" If J. Fox's wife developed Parkinson's disease, I would

pay more

attention to the cluster theory.''

You and I have not caught it )

Take care, Bill