Michael J. Fox has made a heartbreaking prediction as he comes to terms with his own mortality amid his battle with Parkinson's.
Fox was first diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder back in 1991 when he was just 29 years old.
People with the condition often suffer from physical symptoms such as shaking and stiffness, as well as mental symptoms such as memory loss and depression. It is still not known what causes the condition.
After going public with his battle with the disease in 1998, the beloved actor launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000, which is "dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today".
However, over the last two decades, fans have been left heartbroken after seeing the impact the disease has had on the actor's career and well-being, having previously described himself as "sailing a ship on stormy seas on the brightest of days".
Now, in a preview for his upcoming interview with CBS Sunday Morning's Jane Pauley, the beloved Back To The Future star has admitted that he doesn't believe he's going to reach 80 years old.
Currently, the actor is 61 years old - meaning he has lived with the condition for 32 years.
"My life is set up so... I can pack Parkinson's along with me if I have to," he says in the preview. "You don’t die from Parkinson's. You die with Parkinson’s."
Fox spoke about how a simple injury or cold could prove fatal to him - forcing him to change the way he goes about his day-to-day life.
After saying that he has accepted his own mortality, Fox revealed: "I've been thinking about the mortality of it... I’m not gonna be 80."
"It's banging on the door [...] I’m not going to lie, it's getting hard, it's getting harder," he adds. "Every day is tougher. But, but that's — that's the way it is."
In some good news, Fox did reveal earlier this month that the Michael J. Fox Foundation has played a pivotal role in funding research into Parkinson's disease that could be a game-changer for future patients.
The foundation has since become the largest non-profit funder of Parkinson's disease research in the world, with more than $1 billion of research projects to date.
Since 2010, the actor has led a $100 million research project with a large-scale clinical study to discover the biological markers of Parkinson's disease with the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative.
Now, new results - published this month in The Lancet Neurology - have found that a key Parkinson's pathology can now be identified by examining spinal fluid from living patients. This will allow for Parkinson's to be detected much earlier in patients; allowing for earlier intervention and treatment.
"It's all changed. It can be known and treated early on. It's huge," said Fox at the time. "This is the thing," he added of the research. "This is the big reward. This is the big trophy."
Sharing the amazing news with his Instagram followers, Fox wrote: "Today marks a gigantic leap forward in Parkinson’s research. @michaeljfoxorg and its signature PPMI study are announcing the discovery of a biomarker for PD, something the Foundation has sought since our earliest days.
"I am deeply moved by this breakthrough and share my immense gratitude with the scientists, research participants and funders who have worked tirelessly to bring us this far. Your tenacity and commitment have made this historic moment possible.
"We still have a long way to go — but today's announcement affirms that we’re on the path to ending Parkinson's."
We wish Fox the very best as he continues to be an inspirational voice and activist against Parkinson's.
