by Dr. James W. Stark

Earlier this week, Annette Funicello, an actress famous for her roles in the Mickey Mouse Club and many movies, passed away at the age of 70 due to complications from MS. Annette was reportedly diagnosed with MS in the mid-1980’s before the current era of disease-modifying drugs. Today, there is extensive research emphasizing the importance of early, effective treatment in MS to prevent these kinds of long-term complications. Mrs. Funicello was not associated with the IMSMP at any point in her illness but our sympathies go out to her friends and family.