Virginia congresswoman diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease

Virginia Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wexton on Tuesday confirmed that she had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's in a nervous system disorder that progressively gets worse and often results in difficulties with movement. There is no cure at present, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

It has plagued many notable individuals such as Scottish comedian Billy Connolly and American actor Michael J. Fox. Media outlets have long speculated that Russian President Vladimir Putin suffers from the disease, without confirmation.

Wexton announced her diagnosis on World Parkinson's Day, posting a video to Twitter in which she also indicated that she was doing well, despite impairments to her balance and speech.

"Don't feel sorry for me," she indicated.

On #WorldParkinsonsDay, I'm here to share that I've been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.



I'm doing well, and I want to bring about as much good from this diagnosis as I can—including here in Congress. pic.twitter.com/bvEwzZQbqp

— Rep. Jennifer Wexton (@RepWexton) April 11, 2023

"I want to use my platform to be a voice for those struggling with Parkinson’s to help bring better resources to the search for a cure," she asserted in the video.

"I'm not going to let Parkinson's stop me from being me," she declared defiantly. "I hope to keep serving you for many years to come."

Wexton represents the state's 10th Congressional District, which includes much of Northern Virginia.

Following her announcement, she received support from congressional peers such as Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Penn., who thanked her for spreading awareness of the disease. "The battle to end Parkinson's continues — and I'm with you in this fight," she tweeted.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.