Southern Miss, NFL legend Brett Favre announces he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s

Brett Favre, the Kiln native who was a star at Southern Miss and had an NFL Hall of Fame football career, revealed Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative nervous system disorder that causes parts of the brain to deteriorate and affects movement.

Favre was speaking before the House Ways and Means Committee in Congress about a company that received $2 million of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds. Favre was the top investor in the company and text messages show he began asking state officials for help securing funds for the company in November 2018.

“Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others,” Favre said. “And I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s too late for me, because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. This is also a cause dear to my heart.”

Jacob VanLandingham, the company’s founder, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in July, admitting that he used Mississippi welfare money to pay off gambling and other debts.

Favre spoke about his involvement in the Mississippi welfare case. At least $77 million in TANF funds, earmarked for poor families, were diverted to the rich and powerful, according to a 2019 Mississippi state audit.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s

According to the Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s disease symptoms can be different for everyone. Early symptoms may be mild, might not be noticed. Symptoms often begin on one side of the body, then affect both sides. Symptoms are usually worse on one side than the other. Some Parkinson’s disease symptoms are similar to those of other disorders.

Parkinson’s symptoms may include:

• Tremor. This rhythmic shaking usually begins in the hands or fingers. Sometimes tremor begins in the foot or jaw. You may rub your thumb and forefinger back and forth. This is known as a pill-rolling tremor. Your hand may tremble when it’s at rest or when you’re under stress. You may notice that you shake less when you’re doing some sort of task or moving around.
• Slowed movement, also called bradykinesia. Parkinson’s disease may slow your movement, making simple tasks more difficult. It may be hard to get out of a chair, shower or get dressed. You may have less expression in your face. It may be hard to blink.
• Rigid muscles. You may have stiff muscles in any part of your body. Your muscles may feel tense and painful, and your arm movements may be short and jerky.
• Poor posture and balance. Your posture may become stooped. You may fall or have balance problems.
• Loss of automatic movements. You may be less able to make certain movements that you typically do without thinking, including blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you walk.
• Speech changes. You may speak softly or quickly, slur, or hesitate before talking. Your speech may be flat or monotone, without typical speech patterns.
• Writing changes. You may have trouble writing, and your writing may appear cramped and small.
• Nonmotor symptoms. These may include depression, anxiety, constipation and sleep problems. They also may include acting out dreams, needing to urinate often, trouble smelling, problems with thinking and memory, and feeling very tired.

This story was originally published September 24, 2024 at 11:01 AM.