Legendary quarterback Brett Favre testified in front of the United States Congress that he was “recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.”
Favre was speaking before the House Ways and Means Committee about the Mississippi welfare fraud case, in which Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds were misused, $8 million of which went to Favre himself, a volleyball stadium at his alma mater, and to a drug company Favre backed.
In his opening statement, Favre revealed that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
“Sadly, I also lost an investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others,” Favre said. “I’m sure you’ll understand, while it’s too late for me because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, this is also a cause dear to my heart.”
Here’s Favre’s full statement:
Favre, who played 20 seasons in the NFL, including 321 consecutive regular season and playoff games said in an interview that he estimated to have suffered “thousands” of concussions during his football career.
Parkinson’s disease is a condition that causes deterioration in the brain and affects motor skills. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, over one million people in the United States live with the disease and nearly 90,000 are diagnosed each year.
