Newswise — Muhammad Ali has been quoted and written about more than anyone in the world. Yet for all those words, few people have ever seen him as he is portrayed in the new issue of Neurology Now, a magazine for patients with neurological conditions and their families.
The cover story extends Muhammad Ali's legacy as a sports legend and cultural icon to add another courageous facet: the world's most famous Parkinson's patient.
The article provides this private look at how the world's most public figure battles Parkinson's disease with the same conviction that made him champion in and out of the ring:
"¢ Anecdotes from family and friends paint a moving portrait of Ali's daily life in the face of worsening symptoms that have stilled his voice and slowed his movements.
"¢ Evidence from his trainer Angelo Dundee and daughter Rasheda indicates that Ali may have boxed with symptoms of Parkinsonism, the umbrella term for movement disorders including Parkinson's disease.
"¢ The world-renowned neurologist who diagnosed Ali's Parkinsonism, Stanley Fahn, M.D., traces the disorder's progression over the ensuing 22 years and casts doubt upon the commonly held belief that Ali's symptoms were caused by boxing.
The Muhammad Ali story was never just about boxing, but now that's true more than ever. Now it's the story of a once-dynamic champion battling a debilitating disease in a way that inspires us all. To tell it as it's never been told, Neurology Now enlisted boxing expert Wallace Matthews, who has known and covered Ali for over two decades as an award-winning writer and television reporter. And the article is enhanced by the photographs of Neil Leifer, whose shots have graced more Sports Illustrated and TIME magazine covers than anyone ever.
Ali's daughter has teamed up with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) to help educate the public about Parkinson's disease. She has recorded Public Service Announcements promoting the AAN's new clinical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease. For more information on the guidelines visit http://www.aan.com.
Neurology Now is the American Academy of Neurology's official magazine for patients, their families and caregivers. Published bimonthly by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a leading international publisher of health and medical publications, the magazine provides accurate and important new information about advances and treatments in all neurological disorders. It offers expert advice about wellness and disease prevention, new medications and therapies, and strategies for coping with neurological disorders. Its goals range from improving communication between patients and caregivers to supporting disease awareness and self-management. Access back issues at http://www.neurologynow.com.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 19,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson disease, autism and multiple sclerosis. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com.
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