Michael J. Fox says acting prolonged life with Parkinson's

Actor and philanthropist Michael J. Fox, speaking at an industry summit this week, reflected on his 35-year journey with Parkinson's disease, revealing how his decision to go public transformed his life and fueled a global research effort that has now committed over $3 billion toward finding a cure. The 65-year-old star also confirmed he will return for the upcoming fourth season of the Apple TV+ series "Shrinking."

Fox was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's in 1991 at age 29 but kept the condition private for seven years before announcing it in 1998. He said the choice to live openly with the disease, while empowering for many, came at a personal cost. "It was hell on Tracy, it was really hard on her and it still is, because it's always changing," Fox said of his wife, actress Tracy Pollan. He explained that he felt compelled to "go all the way" to normalize the experience for others who lacked his resources and optimism.

In the aftermath of his announcement, Fox anonymously visited online Parkinson's patient chatrooms to gauge reaction. He recalled finding responses ranging from encouraged to ecstatic. "I thought, well, f--- you, I have Parkinson's and you're celebrating,"...