All eyes are on Michael J. Fox as he graces the current issue of AARP The Magazine, and just in time for Parkinson’s Awareness Month! In the feature, Michael talks about family, his return to TV and keeping a positive outlook on life when living with Parkinson’s:

“There’s an idea I came across a few years ago that I love. My happiness grows in direct proportion [to] my acceptance and in inverse proportion to my expectations.”

MJFF’s CEO Todd Sherer, PhD, also spoke with AARP The Magazine on biotech company Ceregene and their work with the neurturin gene therapy CERE-120 as a potential disease-modifying treatment for PD. MJFF has been a lead funder for this promising therapeutic since 2005, which is currently in stage 2 clinical development:

“At the moment, all eyes are on a promising surgical therapy involving a specialized brain protein called neurturin, which may slow or stop Parkinson's symptoms rather than temporarily mask them. In testing, neurturin has been found to help rejuvenate neurons damaged by Parkinson's, and restore function.”

Michael also encourages those inspired by the Foundation’s work to get involved with clinical trials by registering as a volunteer on Fox Trial Finder:

“The more people get involved in trials, the quicker our work carries on, and accelerates research down the pathway to the bedside.”

As part of Parkinson’s Awareness Month, MJFF will partner with AARP in a series of guest blog posts on the AARP Web site throughout the month, as well as an “Ask the Expert” online chat with MJFF’s Mark Fraiser, PhD, and Maurizio Facheris, MD.

Keep watching the FoxFeed blog as we unveil more ways to help speed a cure during Parkinson’s Awareness Month.