Michael J Fox Admits His Parkinson’s Disease Is Getting Worse: “I’m Not Gonna Be 80!”

• Michael J Fox, 61, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 and has been living with the disease ever since.
• The actor says “You don’t die from Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s. I’m not gonna be 80.”

Michael J Fox admits his Parkinson’s is getting difficult but he remains optimistic

Michael J Fox remains optimistic and resilient despite facing increasingly difficult days as he copes with Parkinson’s disease.

During a recent CBS Sunday Morning interview with Jane Pauley, the 61-year-old actor, who received the diagnosis in 1991, discussed the ongoing challenges of the degenerative disorder, which relentlessly impacts the central nervous system and takes away from his quality of life.

He described Parkinson’s as a “gift that keeps on taking.”

Fox admits it’s getting harder:

“I’m not gonna lie. It’s getting harder. Every day it’s tougher.”

He further explained:

“[Falling] is a big killer with Parkinson’s. It’s falling, and aspirating food and pneumonia – all these subtle ways that [it] gets you. You don’t die from Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s. I’m not gonna be 80.”

The actor was diagnosed in 1991 and has now lived with the disease for more than 30 years. He further explains how he deals with it:

“I recognize how hard this is for people, and I recognize how hard it is for me, but I have a certain set of skills that allow me to deal with this stuff. And I realize, with gratitude, optimism is sustainable.”

He added:

“If you can find something to be grateful for, then you can find something to look forward to, and you carry on”.

Read more: Actor Michael J Fox gets his first sea turtle tattoo at the age of 57!

‘Still: A Michael J Fox Movie’ will be released on Apple TV+ on May 12

Supporters of the performer will have the opportunity to learn more about Michael J Fox’s health story in an upcoming movie called “Still.”

The film, directed by Davis Guggenheim, who received an Oscar for his work on the 2006 documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” also documents Fox’s experience with Parkinson’s disease and how he has managed to maintain a positive attitude and continue working despite his diagnosis.

According to a press release, the documentary will feature his previously unreleased personal journey, including the years that followed his diagnosis.

Following a screening of the movie at South by Southwest in March, Fox talked about what his life has been like since he revealed his condition to the public in 1998.

Talking about Parkinson’s in a Q&A session, the actor said:

“I didn’t have a choice. This is it. I have to give everything I have, and it’s not lip service. I show up and do the best I can.”

He added:

“Pity is a benign form of abuse. I can feel sorry for myself, but I don’t have time for that. There is stuff to be learned from this, so let’s do that and move on.”

You may also like to read about: Michael J. Fox Foundation, his new partnership venture, and his struggle with Parkinson’s disease! Find the details here!