Really sad news....Brian Grant has Parkinson's disease

[salsadancer7]

Brian Grant reveals he has Parkinson's disease
Associated Press
Updated: May 19, 2009, 1:59 PM EST

Former NBA forward Brian Grant revealed Monday that he has Parkinson's disease and is starting a Web site devoted to his fight with the neurological disorder.

The 37-year-old Grant told ESPN.com that he was diagnosed in January with "young onset Parkinson's" and began having tremors in his left hand last summer. He consulted two other well-known Parkinson's suffers, Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali, and quickly implemented several lifestyle changes.

Grant played parts of 12 seasons in the NBA with Sacramento, Portland, Miami, Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers. He last played in the 2005-06 season, when chronically bad knees forced his retirement. He averaged 10.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in his career.

"Brian Grant is one of the greatest team players and warriors that I have ever coached," Miami Heat president Pat Riley said Monday night. "I'm saddened by this news. Brian will find a way to fight this because that is the way he's always been, a fighter. He will overcome this."

Grant, who lives in Portland, told ESPN that a combination of traditional and non-traditional treatments — such as several doses daily of vitamins, herbs, powders and cod-liver oil — have already helped some symptoms subside.

"Just me believing in a positive spirit will take me farther in the long run," Grant said.

Grant, who played collegiately at Xavier, was on the NBA's All-Rookie team in 1995.

NBA - Brian Grant reveals he has Parkinson's disease - FOX Sports on MSN

 

[harshness]

Not to diminish the gravity of the problem, but Muhammad Ali has Parkinson's Syndrome, not Parkinson's Disease.

I hope that Brian can continue to use his celebrity to forward his efforts in his community and the nation. He will always be a respected member of the community in Portland.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

Not to diminish the gravity of the problem, but Muhammad Ali has Parkinson's Syndrome, not Parkinson's Disease.

I hope that Brian can continue to use his celebrity to forward his efforts in his community and the nation. He will always be a respected member of the community in Portland.

How do they differ? Serious question.

 

[mccoyrj]

How do they differ? Serious question.

I googled and found this:

There is a difference. Parkinson's disease is a very treatable disease involving degeneration of the substantia nigra as well as other brain areas. Replacing dopamine can treat most of the symptoms including the tremor, stiffness and slow movement. People with Parkinson's disease usually live their full lifespan. Parkinsonian syndromes include other neurodegenerative diseases such as "Corticobasal degeneration", "Progressive Supranuclear Palsy", "striatalnigral degeneration" and others. These diseases are much worse in that they are essentially not treatable and lead to very severe balance problems early in the disease. In Parkinson's disease, the balance problems come on late in the disease.

Would hate to have either one. I wish Grant the best.

 

[salsadancer7]

I googled and found this:

Would hate to have either one. I wish Grant the best.

Nice post there Mccoy...

 

[HD MM]

Wow, awfully young to get Parkinson's. Very unfortunate news.

 

[Ramy]

Yes, way too young.

 

[Rey]

agreed. very sad. i have an uncle that has this and it's incredible the condition he's in after having it for 5 years. horrible disease......... i hope treatments for this continue to improve and eventually a cure is found.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

I googled and found this:

Would hate to have either one. I wish Grant the best.

Thank you for your leg work on this.

 

[mccoyrj]

Nice post there Mccoy...

Thank you for your leg work on this.

Thank you, and you're welcome. Google makes me look so damn smart.

Now WTF did all that mean.