Michael J. Fox has raised over two billion dollars for Parkinson’s disease and has now claimed that a cure is ‘closer than it’s ever been.’

The actor and activist first began getting symptoms of early-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991 and was diagnosed shortly afterward. The disease is described by the NHS as ‘a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.’

Seven years later he spoke publicly after his diagnosis and has been a huge advocate for research.

While speaking to Lorraine Kelly on her morning show the 61-year-old told the host about the positive steps forward in the bid to find a cure for the disease.

‘I feel it’s [a cure] closer than it’s ever been,’ he explained.

‘I think we’ve found this biomarker which is huge, identifying the disease and therefore being able to treat it earlier.

Michael began getting symptoms for Parkinson’s in 1991 (Picture: AP)

‘It was a gigantic breakthrough, we didn’t expect to make it this soon. We were working on it for a long time, ten years ago we talked about it.’

Michael was on the show to promote his new film Still, which documents his life living with Parkinson’s disease and features his wife Tracy Pollan, 62, and four adult children – Sam, Aquinnah, Schuyler, and Esmé.

Speaking about his wife of 35 years who he met on the set of Family Ties, Micheal said, ‘She was amazing. 

Michael and Tracy have been married for 35 years (Picture: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The Michael J. Fox Foundation)

‘When I met her I was kind of doing the show and I was just coming off the movie, everything in the world was mine. The world was my oyster, a hot shot,’ he added.

‘And then I met this girl from New York who just shut me down and straightened me out and I knew in that moment, that I was in love with her.’

He continued: ‘Tracy is one of the funniest people on this planet and my kids are all funny.

Michael J Fox was interviewed by Lorraine (Picture: ITV)

‘I think funny is our first response to anything. We say ‘What’s funny about this?’ It could be some colossal, horrible thing. 

‘We love each other, we have a good time, we laugh a lot.

‘I’m thrilled with life, I love life. I’m a very happy person. It’s good, I’m 61 years old and that’s amazing in itself.’

He also spoke about his busy schedule back in the day doing Back to the Future and Family Ties at the same time. He stated: ‘I don’t know how I did it,’ before adding he was ‘just so hungry for it.’

Michael explained his attitude to life that keeps him upbeat.

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‘I think it helps to be silly, I think you’ve got to be silly sometimes in the face of things that are really daunting and threatening,’ he told Lorraine.

‘And you have to be compassionate for the people around you, look at what they’re going through.’

Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV. Still is in cinemas and on Apple TV+ from today.

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There’s been a ‘gigantic breakthrough.’