Brett Favre diagnosed with Parkinson's disease

Brett Favre announced his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease during a congressional hearing focused on welfare accountability on Tuesday.

Favre testified before the House Ways and Means Committee amid allegations that he was involved in a scheme to divert Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for personal use.

The Hall of Fame quarterback expressed that the ongoing scandal has significantly impacted him and suggested that his Parkinson's diagnosis might be linked to concussions sustained during his football career. He shared, “Unfortunately, I lost my investment in a company developing a promising concussion drug. While it’s too late for me—I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s—this issue is very important to me.”

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Favre faces accusations of encouraging local officials to misallocate welfare funds to construct an athletic facility and support a concussion drug development company, Prevacus, where he is an investor. A Mississippi state audit revealed that approximately $5 million in TANF funds was redirected to build a volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter played, and $1.7 million was allocated to Prevacus.

Additionally, Favre reportedly received $1.1 million in speaking fees for speeches he did not deliver, although his attorneys state that he has reimbursed the amount.

During his testimony, Favre attributed the misuse of funds to state officials. “The challenges my family and I have faced over the last three years are due to certain government officials in Mississippi failing to safeguard federal TANF funds from fraud and then unjustly blaming me,” he said. “These challenges have damaged my reputation and are more difficult than anything I experienced in football.”

Favre indicated that he was initially unaware of TANF but now recognizes its significance as a vital welfare program. He stated that upon learning of the improper use of TANF funds, he returned the money to the state, insisting, “I knew I had done nothing wrong. I returned the funds—no questions asked.”

Although Favre has not been criminally charged in the welfare fraud investigation, some of his alleged co-conspirators have faced legal consequences. Jacob VanLandingham, founder of Prevacus, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in July.

Recent data from the World Health Organization indicates that the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease has doubled in the past quarter-century. Research suggests that concussions significantly increase the risk of developing the disease, with a 2018 study showing that even a single traumatic brain injury could raise the likelihood of Parkinson’s by up to 56 percent.

While there is currently no cure for Parkinson's, treatments exist that can enhance the quality of life for those affected by the disease.