If we turn to statistics, we can see that more than four million people suffer from Parkinson's disease. Among them can be either an ordinary elderly woman whom we meet on the way to the bakery, or a famous person whom the whole planet knows. The history of the fight against this disease of celebrities is an example of how not to give up in such a situation and try to prolong an active life. Muhammad Ali’s illness was a difficult test for him, but a world-famous boxer did not even think of stopping the fight against the disease.
Childhood
The future great boxer was born January 17, 1942 in Kentucky, the city of Louisville, his mother was a housewife Odessa Clay. The name he was given in honor of his father, who was an artist by profession. So the boy became Cassius Jr. Two years later, his younger brother was born - Rudolph. Having grown up, both boys will take on themselves pseudonyms: the eldest - Muhammad Ali, the younger - Rahman Ali.
Their friendly family never belonged to those in need, although, of course, the white population lived an order of magnitude better. My father painted signs, my mother sometimes worked part time, cleaning the homes of wealthy people. Parents were even able to save money for a decent cottage.
During the childhood of Cassius, America existed in an atmosphere of inequality. The boy did not understand why blacks are considered people of some second grade. Father, for his part, often showed his sons photographs of a teenager who was brutally murdered by whites. They were found, but not punished. And mother was proud of her white-skinned Irish grandfather.
The first steps in boxing
Once a bicycle was stolen from a 12-year-old Clay, whom he loved very much. The boy decided to beat the guys who offended him. But the white policeman Joe Martin, who met him as a boxing trainer, met him and said that first you need to learn how to fight and then beat someone. So began training Cassius, who took them and his younger brother.
It was hard to work with Cassius: he often lifted up a lot of other boxers, without stopping, shouting that he and only he was the best athlete. But so far not a single coach could consider the guy's special potential. Everything was changed by the first battle, which took place just a month and a half after Cassius arrived in the section. The boy liked that this fight was broadcast on television. Despite the fact that Cassius was a rookie, he beat the white opponent. After the battle ended, overjoyed, he shouted at the camera that he would soon become a great boxer. From the first victory, the boy began serious work on himself.
Sports career of a great boxer
These were the years when Muhammad Ali’s illness did not yet seize his body. He was only fourteen when in 1956 he won the Golden Gloves tournament. This was a great start to his career. By the day of graduation, the young man won 100 fights and received only 8 defeats.
Gradually, the boxer's corporate identity began to appear. He seemed to be dancing near the enemy, dodging his blow. At the Olympics, Muhammad Ali defeated Zbigniew Petshikovsky, earning a gold medal. He entered professional boxing at the end of October 1960 after a fight with Tunny Hanseker, which ended in Ali's victory.
In order to start working with a new coach, Cassius Clay moved to Miami. The coach managed to find an approach to the boxer with a difficult character: he did not try to control Clay, but respected him and directed him. In 1962, in just six months, the young boxer knocked out five victories.
Muhammad Ali’s disease has not yet manifested itself in the powerful body of an athlete. He was strong and invincible. The fight with Liston was quite serious and difficult, but after the victory, Muhamed Ali achieved the title of world heavyweight champion. He later earned the title of boxer of the century. And in the early 90s, Ali got into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in order to remain a sports legend for many years.
Boxers and Parkinson's Disease
To date, scientists have not been able to understand why changes in the brain develop, which subsequently lead to Parkinson's disease. But it is known: there is a direct connection between traumatic brain damage and the gradual development of motor pathology. If a person had a head injury, then the risk of this disease is about four times higher than those people who did not have such injuries.
Most often, boxers get chronic skull injuries. Doctors say that parkinsonism is dangerous for both professional athletes and amateurs, because during the fight there is not enough protection. From every blow to the head, a microshake occurs, which leads to structural damage to the substance of the brain.
According to statistics, more than half of boxers suffer from impaired brain function. But the first symptoms remain invisible to both the boxers themselves and their relatives. First, a memory impairment, tremor, coordination is disturbed. This can last several months or even several years.
Unfortunately, boxer Muhammad Ali was among the sick. The cause of his illness was associated precisely with such injuries received over the years in the fighting in the ring. All his battles were equally difficult and did not exclude blows to the head. And every touch of the opponent’s fist to Ali’s head brought him closer to the onset of the disease.
Parkinson's disease and Muhammad Ali
The most famous patient with parkinsonism was Muhammad Ali. Parkinson's disease overtook him three decades ago, but he courageously fought with it, being an example for the remaining sick and their relatives who dropped their hands. For a boxer, the fight against the disease became the meaning of his life.
He began this battle many years before the end of his sports career. He was diagnosed in 1984. He spent his last fights in the ring, already being not quite healthy. And 13 years later, in 1997, Muhammad Ali’s illness did not prevent him from opening the first center where they treated motor disorders.
His activity now has been a thorough study of the mechanism of the development of the disease, as well as all sorts of developments aimed at slowing the progression of this serious disease. The employees of this center tried to improve the social adaptation of patients with this diagnosis, to change the attitude of healthy people to the disease.
Charity
Today there are several funds and centers that deal with this disease.
The annual charity events were helped by Muhammad Ali. The disease did not break this strong man. Thanks to charity, he managed to collect impressive amounts of money. Donations help develop the scientific activities of foundations, support and help patients with this disease. There are many different videos where you can see how the famous boxer himself (Muhammad Ali’s disease, whose photo is still often found on glossy pages, has already progressed by this moment), struggles with the disease, trying to independently perform the simplest self-care actions.
