“Back to… the beach”: Michael J. Fox’s visit to Tulum

American actor Michael J. Fox, famous for his role as Marty McFly in the movie Back to the Future, was spotted a few days ago on a beach in Tulum, in the state of Quintana Roo.

The interpreter visited the popular tourist destination in the company of his wife Tracy Pollan and some friends. Some of the images that have circulated on social networks show Michael J. Fox in a wheelchair or receiving help from a person to stand up.

Some Internet users have reacted with messages of support: “God bless him greatly”, “Cheer up, yes you can”, among others.

In other images, published by Tracy Pollan, they can be seen enjoying the Mexican beaches, in the company of actress and producer Ali Wentworth.

Since he is 29 years old Michael J. Fox has lived with Parkinson’s, a disorder that makes it difficult to control his movements and on recent occasions, such as the reunion with Christopher Lloyd at the 2022 New York Comic Con, the actor showed several difficulties in being able to fully control his motor skills, although at the time he commented:

“It’s not about what I have, it’s about what I’ve been given: the voice to do this and help people.” It should be noted that the actor received an honorary Oscar for his humanitarian work, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award given by the Hollywood Academy.

In 2022 the disorder forced the American to leave his acting career behind. In his memoir, No Time Like the Future, Fox mentions:

“There’s a time for everything, and my time of putting in a twelve-hour workday and memorizing seven pages of dialogue is best left behind…At least for now…I go into a second retirement. That could change, because everything changes. But if this is the end of my acting career, so be it.”

What does Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s disease look like?
It is one that primarily affects the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide.

The condition specifically affects the neurons responsible for the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is related to happiness and helps cells communicate with each other. It also attacks some of the components found in the ‘substantia nigra’, a crucial area of the brain that allows communication between all its elements.

Despite being one of the most discussed diseases, experts are still unable to determine the cause of Parkinson’s, but it is believed to be a combination of external factors and the genetics of each individual.

Some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s, mostly cognitive impairment, occur over time, but typically may include:

• Tremors in different parts of the body, predominantly in the hands.
• Bradykinesia, slowness of physical movements.
• Hypokinesia, decreased mobility of oneself.
• Stiff body parts, especially arms and legs.
• Postural instability.