CBC Parkinson's mystery may aid research

[Guest guest]

Another article describing the Parkinsons Enigma documentary.

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March 30, 2002

CBC Parkinson's mystery may aid research

4 out of 125 have disease

Ian

National Post

VANCOUVER - Don S. is, in a way, used to conspiracies,

secret schemes and oddities.

For four years, the veteran actor and director had a prominent role

in TV's The X-Files as an " elder. " He was a grim-faced, impassive

fellow in sober suits, who sat with other equally gloomy types in

dark backrooms, hatching plans that bedeviled Fox Mulder and

Dana Scully -- FBI agents trying to unravel a conspiracy involving

humans and aliens. It was a good gig. It ended, recalls Mr.

dryly, when rebel aliens " fried [my character] to a crisp. "

But the 64-year-old North Vancouver resident has lately been

reflecting on an oddity at the core of a very personal matter,

far removed from TV fantasy.

It has to do with Mr. ' diagnosed case of Parkinson's

disease, which curtailed an acting career that spanned 47 years.

" I can't accept acting roles because I can't be sure I can deliver

the goods, " says Mr. , who deals daily with tremors,

insomnia and some energy problems related to the illness.

" I am not getting better, but I am not getting worse. "

The Canadian comic actor J. Fox, also diagnosed with

the degenerative illness, sits at the core of the enigma that

occupies Mr. ' thoughts.

The two men are among four people diagnosed with Parkinson's

who were associated with a 125-member CBC production crew

that worked in a cluster of studios in the basement of the main

CBC complex in Vancouver during the late 1970s. One of the four,

a cameraman, has not yet been identified.

Twenty-three years ago, Mr. Fox -- famous for roles in two hit

sitcoms Family Ties and Spin City -- worked on the Vancouver

-produced series Leo & Me -- the first TV work for the

Edmonton-born actor then billed as Mike Fox. Mr. Fox was ,

the nephew of Leo (played by Brent Carver, who later found

stardom in theatre).

The TV pair lived on a yacht in Vancouver harbour -- home base

for wild adventures as they met odd characters. The show was

produced at CBC's Vancouver studios in 1978. Thirteen episodes

were aired in 1981.

Mr. Fox, now 40, also worked on a series called Nellie, ,

Emma and Ben, where he was directed by Mr. .

Both series were handled by the same production team.

The four-in-125 factor has piqued the interest of observers, who say

it is statistically anomalous and it underlines a new view of

Parkinson's, which afflicts about one million people across North

America.

That view suggests Parkinson's could be caused by viral infections.

Observers suggest there are higher risks of developing Parkinson's

among teachers and health care workers because of exposure to

people with influenza, as well as other workers, such as loggers,

who spend a lot of time together in close quarters.

The view is articulated in The Parkinson's Enigma, a documentary

to be aired on April 7 on CTV. It suggests a single event, such as

a viral or toxic attack linked to pesticides, herbicides, metals,

solvents, as well as such viruses as encephalitis or virulent

influenza strains, could kill or wound neurons that affect muscle

movement.

" Something happens. You're not aware of it. But several years

down the road, you develop symptoms and the disease progresses, "

Dr. Calne, professor- emeritis with the Neurodegenerative

Disorder Centre at the University of British Columbia Hospital,

said during an interview.

All of this has left Mr. reflecting on his days working with

Mr. Fox, whom he remembers fondly as a professional, a pleasant

contradiction to the truism that " a lot of young actors can be

insufferable. "

Mr. tries not to dwell on the past. He keeps busy with

various commitments, including part-time teaching in TV and film

at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. And he says he

remembers nothing special about those days with Mr. Fox,

not even a case of the flu among members of the unit.

Mr. jokes that the Parkinson's may have started on the

series because " we used up a lot of brain cells working on the

scripts. " They were not, says Mr. , very good.

" I still try to search through my memories of the experience to see

if there is anything, " he says. " But I don't want to sit around

feeling sorry for myself. "

Dr. Calne thinks the chances of four in 125 people

developing Parkinson's is about one in 20,000. " It essentially

could not be coincidence, " he says.

Dr. Calne, who is treating three of the CBC four, is thinking

of drafting a research proposal to investigate the mystery.

And he may seek funding from the foundation that Mr. Fox

launched in May, 2000, to encourage Parkinson's research.

The J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is

devoted to developing a cure within a decade. " What has

become apparent is that this is worth a deeper investigation, "

Dr. Calne says.

Parkinson's is a chronic, progressive disorder of the nervous

system named for Dr. Parkinson, the English doctor

who first described it in 1817. It results from the loss of cells

that produce dopamine, a chemical messenger that transmits

signals within the brain. Loss of dopamine leaves patients

unable to control their movements.

No cause has been identified for Parkinson's. There is no cure,

although drugs and surgery can deal with some of the symptoms,

which include tremors, trembling, problems with balance and

stiffness in limbs.

Dr. Calne is also curious about what happened to the other

121 people associated with the CBC production unit.

" We don't know for sure that there are only four cases, "

he says, expressing hopes that media attention around the

situation may prompt people to come forward.

Given the opportunity to speak to them, Dr. Calne would like

to ask them if they recall anything unusual about their

experiences on the set in downtown Vancouver. " Obviously,

with these patients, we haven't been able to do so. "

He doubts toxins were the factor in this case.

Mr. Fox announced in 1998 that he had been suffering from

Parkinson's since 1991. He left Spin City -- in which he played

the deputy mayor of New York City -- in 2000 to spend more

time with his children and to focus on developing a cure.

" As sure as the sun's going to come up tomorrow, it's gonna

happen, " Mr. Fox says in the documentary. " So our mission

is just to make it happen as soon as possible. "

Don recalls that the young Mike Fox was a pleasure

to work with.

" I know we're always supposed to say this, but in this case

it's true: It was a very good experience, " Mr. says.

" I found [Mr. Fox] very excited, very committed and wanting

to learn. I remember mutterings in the crew, saying this kid

was going to go far because he had the right attitude. "

Mr. also did well. He was a director and producer

of The Beachcombers for six years, directing 48 episodes of the

popular CBC show -- a Canadian TV institution.

He started as an actor when he was 17. The X-Files, one among

many credits, came when his agent called to say the show's

producers were " looking for a particular type " for the part he

eventually got.

Mr. was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1993, when

a persistent shaking in his right arm prompted him to seek

medical attention.

" My first reaction was that I was not old enough. I was 55, "

he says. " I was of the belief that Parkinson's happens when

you're 75, not 55. I soon got educated. "

Mr. said he was determined to deal with his illness.

" I was determined that this was not going to change my life.

It has. "

He said it did not affect his X-Files work. Indeed, it may have

helped. Effects of the disease helped him convey an enigmatic air,

which helped with the part.

Earlier last week, he flew to New York City with Dr. Calne

for a joint appearance on the whole issue on

Good Morning America.

" I have been willing to do whatever I can towards awareness

and public education about Parkinson's, " he says.

" Obviously, I have a vested interest. "

ibailey@...

SOURCE: The National Post

http://www.nationalpost.com/search/story.html?f=/stories/20020330/493416.htm

l&qs=parkinson

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