Back to the Future star Michael J. Fox reflects on possible causes of parkinson's disease

Michael J. Fox, discussing his early-onset Parkinson's, expressed concerns about his life expectancy.

Michael J. Fox, the iconic "Back to the Future" actor, has opened up about his battle with early-onset Parkinson's disease, which he was diagnosed with at age 29 in 1991. During a surprise appearance at Coldplay's Glastonbury headline set, Fox joined the band on stage, playing guitar for their song "Fix You."

Introducing Fox, Chris Martin, Coldplay's lead singer, expressed gratitude, stating, "The main reason why we're in a band is because of watching 'Back to the Future', so thank you to our hero forever and one of the most amazing people on Earth, Mr. Michael J. Fox. Thank you so much, Michael."

Fox, a keen musician, played guitar in the iconic 1985 film. Last year, during an interview with CBS about his documentary "STILL: A Michael J Fox Movie," Fox discussed the possible causes of his condition. Reflecting on his past, he mentioned, "We did some damage in the '80s," implying that his hard partying lifestyle could have contributed to his health issues. When asked by Jane Pauley if he believed his lifestyle could have caused damage, Fox responded, "I mean, there's so many ways that you can ... that I could've hurt myself."

Fox elaborated, suggesting that his condition might be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. He stated, "Most likely I think is that I was exposed to some kind of chemical. What we say is that genetics loads the gun and environment pulls the trigger."

Despite his ongoing battle with Parkinson's, Fox has been a tireless advocate for raising awareness and funds for the disease. He expressed concerns about his life expectancy, saying, "I've been thinking about the mortality of it... I'm not gonna be 80." Fox acknowledged the realities of living with the disease, noting the risks of injuries like falling, choking, or getting sick, which can be fatal for those with Parkinson's.