Tuesday, January 30, 2007

MS prevalence up?

A number of media outlets (e.g., CBS News) are reporting on a study published today that indicates MS prevalence is up 50% since 1982 to .9 cases per thousand. Are more people getting sick or are more people getting diagnosed? Don't know, but it's starting to seem like there really ought to be at least one charismatic, young A-list celebrity with MS who can do for this disease what Michael J. Fox has done for Parkinson's. Annette Funicello's too old; Squiggy's too old and kinda obscure; Teri Garr's too old and kinda flaky; Montel Williams is close, but still a bit too old (sorry guys, it's strictly business).

What we need is someone who, like Michael J. Fox, has been in the mainstream public eye so pervasively that he or she feels like somebody we all know and grew up with. What are we doing wrong?

3 comments:

mdmhvonpa said...

It seems to me that we could use a super-model/moviestar/rockstar connection like Liv Tyler or one of the Ozbourns ... yeah ... that's it. Never thought I would wish someone would be cursed before. Queezy feeling coming on. Ick.

Anonymous said...

I completely agree with you... how about picking someone from here: http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/famous.html

Charles-A. Rovira said...

Hey, I resemble that remark. :-)

Lets be glad that this disease only seems to get ugly after we already have a head start on ugly ourselves. (Sorry I couldn't resist. I really mean older and more mature. <cough>)

Seriously, I wouldn't wish this on, say, Pamela Anderson (but if she develops it, I'd snuggle with her and, uh, cheer her up... :-)