How old is Brett Favre? What to know about the former Packers quarterback, his Parkinson's diagnosis, concussions, welfare scandal

(This story has been updated to add new information and a new photo gallery.)

During testimony before a congressional committee investigating the misuse of federal welfare funds, Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre revealed Tuesday that he has Parkinson's disease.

A person who has suffered brain injuries like concussions, something Favre said he experienced throughout his 20-year Hall of Fame football career, has a greater likelihood of developing Parkinson's, a recent study revealed.

Parkinson's is the same disease that Michael J. Fox has been battling for decades.

Here's what we know about Favre after his Parkinson's revelation.

Brett Favre age. How old is Brett Favre?

Brett Favre is 54. He turns 55 on Oct. 10. Parkinson’s disease usually starts around age 50 or older, the Mayo Clinic says.

Brett Favre reveals Parkinson's disease

Favre said Tuesday that he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Favre didn't say how long he's had the nervous system disorder.

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of Parkinson's include tremors, slowed movement, rigid muscles, poor posture and balance, loss of automatic movements, speech changes, writing changes and nonmotor symptoms.

Risk factors include age, genetics, male sex and exposure to toxins.

Parkinson’s disease is covered in the NFL’s 2017 concussion settlement, joining ALS, Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Do concussions cause Parkinson's?

A 2020 study also revealed a link between concussions and brain and neurological diseases like Parkinson's and dementia. The study by the Family Medicine and Community Health noted that having a single concussion increased the risk of developing Parkinson's by 57% and dementia by 72%.

"I can only hope and pray at 55 or 60 (years old) I don’t suffer some of the same things that some of these other guys that were portrayed in movies suffered," Favre said in a video clip on concussions before appearing on "Megyn Kelly Today" in 2018.

How many concussions did Brett Favre have in his career?

Kelly then opened the interview asking Favre to give her a number on how many concussions he had in his career. "That I know of, three or four, maybe," Favre said.

But the total is much greater, Favre added.

"As we’re learning about concussions there’s a term that’s often used in football and other sports. That I got dinged," Favre explained. "As doctor (Bennet) Omalu, who was portrayed by Will Smith in the movie 'Concussion,' dinged is a concussion when you have ringing of the ears, seeing stars. That’s a concussion and if that’s a concussion I’ve had hundreds, probably thousands throughout my career. Which is frightening."

Brett Favre’s stats in the NFL

Favre played 20 years in the NFL.

He was known as an ironman during his career, starting an NFL-record 321 consecutive games across 18½ seasons from 1992 to 2010.

He began his career with the Atlanta Falcons before being traded to the Packers in his second year, a transaction that changed the course of the organization. He became the first player in NFL history to win three straight MVP awards and turned the Packers into a perennial contender. Favre led Green Bay to a Super Bowl title after the 1996 season, its first in 35 years, and another Super Bowl appearance in 1997.

The Packers traded him to the New York Jets after he came out of retirement in 2008. He spent one season there before playing the final two years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings.

He retired after the 2010 season when he was 41 years old. At the time of his retirement, Favre had the most touchdowns in NFL history at 508. That record has since been passed and he is fourth on the list behind Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning. Nicknamed the gunslinger, Favre was never afraid to take a chance when passing. His 336 interceptions are most in NFL history.

Favre was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

Brett Favre welfare money scandal

Despite all his on-the-field success, his reputation has taken a hit due to his alleged involvement in a welfare scandal in his home state of Mississippi in which $77 million of federal funds intended for needy families were distributed for other uses.

Favre has not been charged with a crime in the case and the former quarterback has denied any wrongdoing. However, he's been a central figure in the investigations and is one of 43 people sued by the Mississippi Department of Human Services seeking to reclaim additional funds.

Favre made his health announcement while he was testifying on Capitol Hill before the Ways and Means committee, which is investigating how states spend funds through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

More than $5 million of federal funds intended for TANF went toward a new volleyball facility at Favre's alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi. Texts show Favre was working on fundraising money for the facility and reached out to two people (Human Services executive John Davis and nonprofit director Nancy New), both of whom have been arrested for their part in misusing money intended to go toward families in need.

"I wanted to help my alma mater and help my community," Favre said Tuesday. "I had no way of knowing that there was anything wrong with how the state funded the project, especially since it was publicly approved by many state agencies and multiple attorneys including the attorney general."

He continued, "Sadly I also lost an investment in a company that I believe was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others. I'm sure that you'll understand while it's too late for me because I've recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's. This is also a cause dear to my heart."

This company was a biomedical startup called Prevacus. The company received money from New. Prevacus' founder Jake VanLandingham has pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud. Prevacus and VanLandingham are in the lawsuit issued by the Mississippi Human Services Department.

Timeline: Brett Favre's involvement in the Mississippi welfare fraud scheme

Favre said he wants guardrails in place for TANF funds so "what happens in Mississippi doesn't happen again."

"The challenges my family have faced because certain government officials in Mississippi failed to protect federal TANF funds from fraud and abuse and are unjustifiably trying to blame me," Favre alleged Tuesday. "Those challenges have hurt my good name. Those challenges are anything worse than I've faced in football."

Brett Favre news: Watch former Packers quarterback speak at congressional hearing

Brett Favre history, Southern Miss

Favre grew up in Kiln, Mississippi, and attended Hancock North Central High School where he was coached by his father, Irvin.

He then starred at Southern Mississippi in college. His No. 4 is retired at the university.

Favre was selected by the Falcons in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft.

FAVRE HISTORY: Brett Favre's wild ride, the original reporting

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How old is Brett Favre? Age, Parkinsons disease, welfare money scandal