Newswise — Eastpointe, MI – July 2, 2012: Hollywood’s velvet rope is notorious for keeping outsiders at bay but it has proven to be no match for autoimmune disease. Just recently, Jack Osbourne, son of rocker Ozzy Osbourne, announced his multiple sclerosis diagnosis. This comes on the heels of tennis phenom Venus Williams, singers Toni Braxton and Lady Gaga and entertainers Nick Cannon and Missy Elliott all announcing a tie to autoimmune disease.
“These recent declarations prove that anyone can get an autoimmune disease diagnosis. Autoimmunity cuts across class and culture lines. Everyone is vulnerable,” says Virginia T. Ladd, President and Executive Director of the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA). “It is no surprise that we are seeing an increasing number of celebrities diagnosed with autoimmune disease as is a reflection of what is transpiring in the general public.”
Approximately 50 million Americans, 20 percent of the population or one in five people, suffer from autoimmune diseases. Women are more likely than men to be affected; some estimates say that 75 percent of those affected--some 30 million people--are women. Furthermore, if one family member has an autoimmune disease, other family members are genetically predisposed. Such is the case for Jack Osbourne. His sister, Kelly, was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, an autoimmune condition that can be deadly if left untreated.
Ladd believes celebrities can be a positive force for increasing autoimmune awareness and garnering support for needed research dollars.
“Public figures can have a major influence on this disease category that is often overlooked yet is one of the top ten causes of death in women under the age of sixty five and a leading cause of disability in those under the age of forty-five,” says Ladd. “Autoimmune diseases are an epidemic and research is woefully underfunded. A mega-concert or some type of national awareness event to raise funds would be an awesome gesture. Dollars raised would put us one step closer to a cure. Moreover, I am sure that celebrity support would introduce a celebrity to a new legion of fans.”
Additionally, Ladd encourages families to discuss their health history during times that families gather such as holidays. This discussion can aid in early diagnosis and better outcomes.
About AARDA AARDA is the only national nonprofit health agency dedicated to bringing a national focus to autoimmunity, the major cause of serious chronic diseases. Approximately 50 million Americans, 20 percent of the population or one in five people, suffer from autoimmune diseases. Women are more likely than men to be affected; some estimates say that 75 percent of those affected. These diseases run in families, often as different diseases within the same family. With these statistics, autoimmunity is rarely discussed as a national health issue. ###
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