Michael J Fox's first sign of Parkinson's disease as star's surprise Baftas appearance leaves fans in tears

The acting legend has supported groundbreaking research into Parkinson's but what is it and when did he first notice something wasn't right?

Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.

The symptoms of Parkinson's usually develop gradually and are mild at first.

Fox, who was diagnosed with the debilitating disease in 1991 at age 29, first experienced symptoms during the filming the movie “Doc Hollywood”.

The star sought medical advice about a tremor, or twitch, he had developed in his pinkie finger.

This is a common sign of Parkinson's, which primarily affects movement.

“All these subtle ways it gets you,” Fox said in an interview last year.

As the NHS explains, tremors usually begin in the hand or arm and are more likely to occur when the limb is relaxed and resting.

• Slowness of movement (bradykinesia) – physical movements are much slower than normal, which can make everyday tasks difficult and result in a distinctive slow, shuffling walk with very small steps
• Muscle stiffness (rigidity) – stiffness and tension in the muscles, which can make it difficult to move around and make facial expressions, and can result in painful muscle cramps (dystonia)

Can Parkinson's be treated?

Unfortunately, there's currently no cure for Parkinson's, but Fox has dedicated his life to finding one.

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In 2000, Fox launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, which has supported some of the most ambitious research in the field.

As Baftas host David Tenant rightly pointed out last night, Fox's charitable foundation has raised over $2billion since its inception - an awe-inspiring achievement that has supported groundbreaking research in the field.

In April, researchers identified forms of a protein and a testing method that can be used to diagnose Parkinson’s much earlier and reduce the numbers of people who are wrongly diagnosed with the disease.

The research was made possible due to the Fox foundation’s Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative, which for more than a decade has followed more than 1,100 volunteers with and without the disease.