No proof that boxing caused Parkinson’s, claims Muhammad Ali’s doctor

Muhammad Ali's battle with Parkinson's disease might not be the result of the blows he received to the head during his boxing career, according to his doctor.

Former heavyweight champion of the world, Muhammad Ali's has been suffering from the neurological syndrome since the '80s. Until now, it was presumed that he developed the disease due to the head trauma he endured during his 21-years as a professional boxer. However, according to Dr Abraham Lieberman, this may not be the case. The Medical Director of the Muhammad Ali Parkisnon Centre made the comments during an interview on BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

If you look at the MRI of his brain it looks pretty good but it's very difficult to factor in what sort of role did boxing play. People ask me about this and I tell them: look at George Foreman. He boxed longer than Muhammad did, took many more blows to the head and he's on television selling his cookware. I think that he [Ali] has typical Parkinson's Disease. Did the boxing contribute? I don't know. It may have.

Lieberman was very positive about Ali's condition.He emphasised that there is no reason for any worry over his health and that he is dealing with the disease, unsurprisingly, like a champ.

He's had Parkinson's since about 1984, that's almost 30 years, that's a long time in Parkinson's. He's in good spirits, he has some trouble walking but overall for having had Parkinson's for 30 years, he's doing okay.

Hat-tip to RTE