- Bill NYE starts a new web series with the National Ataxia Foundation to raise awareness of the rare illness.
- NYE shares personal ties: Several family members live with Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type-27b.
- Nye tells how he remains brain health by cycling, puzzles and active.
Yesterday was the day of international ataxia sensitization, and to raise awareness of the state of the genetic nervous system, we talked to the most popular science communicator of all. Bill Nye, known for his 90s shows Bill Nye the science manBring the nostalgic format back with A New web series everything about ataxia In cooperation with the National Ataxia Foundation and Biogen.
“Ataxia is very important to me because my family has a form of it,” says Nye Eat. “A taxi taxi is how to get around, so” ataxia “means that they cannot get around very well.”
Learn more about this rare genetic state that has affected Nye’s life and how he prioritizes his own brain health, from movement to hobbies that he loves.
What is ataxia? The illness Bill Nye “grew up” with “grew up”
According to the National Ataxia Foundation, ataxia is a degenerative disease of the nervous system. NYES grandmother, father, siblings and other family members lived with a form of ataxia called Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type-27b (SCA27B). These and other forms of ataxia (including its most common hereditary form, Friedreich Ataxia) cause chronic symptoms that worsen over time, such as lack of coordination, blurred language, difficulties when walking and much more.
Since ataxia is a rare disease, it is generally overlooked, which makes awareness all the more important. Nye announces that his father had to struggle in the workplace while he lived with ataxia.
“My father would lose his balance all the time. When he got older, he degraded his handwriting and he had problems speaking,” said Nye. “People thought that my father was drunk when he went around, so he had a letter from a doctor who said that he was not drunk, he had ataxia. And later he wore a stick in life – which was actually more difficult, but it was a signal for people that he had this disability.”
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Ataxia is generally overlooked, and many may not recognize that they have it up to their young adulthood. Nye knows it well when he was “grew up” with the disease by watching his family and taking care of him.
“As a teenager, they could lose a little bit, then as a young adult in the workforce, they have difficulty grasping and they cannot speak clearly, and this could be Friedrich Ataxia in his slow progression,” explains the science man. “A slow progression has led to difficulties in diagnosis. People see a specialist in inner ear and believe that they lose their balance because they have problems with inner ear, or they think that there is a muscle problem … But it is actually (ataxia).
“Ataxia is a serious problem, but modern discoveries are made and modern treatments are being developed that could help people with symptoms,” continues NYE.
Bill Nyes Habits Habits
How does NYE ​​support his own brain health? By including brain -healthy habits in his daily routine.
“I do crossword puzzles,” he says. “And as an engineer, I always design and do little things.” He gives model trains as an example. These may look like just for the hobbies, but research has shown that the positive improvement that crossword puzzles can have on the brain, especially for people with mild cognitive impairments.
Another thing that NYE particularly likes? Exercise, especially cycling.
“I am a long -time cyclist,” he tells us. “My goal is to drive at least three times a week, but I’m on the road this week, so it was difficult. I like it. I am not an indoor cyclist, I’m not a pelotonian – but if you are more strength for you, peloton your brain, but it’s just not my thing.”
Nye says that cycling is able to hug nature without headphones and simply be “on the way” without headphones. We have good news for him: Recently there have been research that shows that cycling is associated with a 19% lower risk of dementia and a lower Alzheimer’s risk of 22%. Regardless of whether you like to ride, walk or run, active travel is the way and cycling can help improve your coordination and relieve stress.
“I like to stay busy,” says Nye, and the video series that he created with the National Ataxia Foundation is an excellent example. It is brain stimulation for NYE and spectators because they receive a brand new science lesson through ataxia. The first episode has now come out:
“Just as you may know Lou Gehrig or Parkinson’s disease, we want everyone to know the word ataxia,” he says. “If you or someone in your family are such symptoms, problems with walking, problems with fine motor skills, shortness of breath, ataxia with fine motor skills, shortness of breath, and we want you to see your doctor and be diagnosed.”
