Disorders of the brain are prominent in society today. Celebrities, relatives, people close to us, all fall victim to these debilitating disorders: disease does not discriminate.

Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, spinal cord injuries and Alzheimer's are all nervous system associated disorders that exist in today's society and scientists are on a mission to unravel the mysteries of these disorders in order to one day provide a cure.

These disorders disrupt the normal functioning of the nervous system by interfering with nerve transmission, synaptic transmission or brain chemistry. As a result, an array of symptoms arise that can be used to pinpoint the areas of the nervous system that are affected. From these discoveries, scientists develop treatments to help deal with a particular symptom of the disorder.

Genetic predisposition and environment can trigger the development of the disorder. It is very important that people monitor their state of well-being and exposure to environmental factors that could trigger the early onset of the disease.

Though he maintains a strong commitment to his acting career, Fox has shifted a good deal of his focus and energies toward The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Read more about Michael J. Fox's courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease: In His Own Words

Right: Michael J. Fox and Bill Ranford at a charity hockey game in 2001.

(Photos courtesy of The Michael J. Fox Foundation)