Michael J. Fox and Harrison Ford launch Parkinson’s awareness campaign

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has launched a new awareness campaign titled “So Your Friend Has Parkinson’s.” Developed in partnership with the entertainment company Maximum Effort, the campaign features Michael J. Fox and Harrison Ford in a video designed to provide accessible advice on supporting those living with the disease.

The campaign uses humor to address the challenges of Parkinson’s, such as social isolation and physical changes like impaired handwriting. Fox advises that supporters should “not make it weird,” “start simple,” and “help, don’t fix,” emphasizing the importance of showing up for friends rather than attempting to provide unverified medical cures.

Parkinson’s is currently the world’s fastest-growing neurodegenerative disease, affecting more than 6 million people globally. Projections suggest the number of cases could double by 2040. The Foundation has funded more than $3 billion in research worldwide in its mission to find a cure.