The Initiative Generated $100 Million Dollars As Donations Towards The Cause
Moreover, in the year 1997, Muhammad Ali established the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute devoted to doing research. Doctors began to learn more about the condition and began to devise ways to handle their symptoms.
Muhammad Ali is thereason why exercise was proved to help alleviate the symptoms. He showed the worldthat it’s possible to continue living with PD and proved how.
Michael J Fox Reflects On Life With Parkinson’s In ‘no Time Like The Future’
- EmbedEmbed
The Family Ties star was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991. He says that if he doesn’t know if he can do something, he fakes it — a strategy that works 80 percent of the time.
TERRY GROSS, HOST:
This is FRESH AIR. I’m Terry Gross. My guest, Michael J. Fox, has written a new memoir that’s about his recent life years after he was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease back in 1991 when he was 29. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder which results in tremors, muscle spasms, balance and coordination problems, diminishment of movement and can also affect mood, sleep and lead to fatigue. Michael J. Fox became famous in his 20s, before Parkinson’s, for his role on the hit sitcom “Family Ties” as a young conservative who went in the opposite direction of his liberal parents and idolized President Reagan.
Michael J. Fox, welcome to FRESH AIR. Congratulations on your book. It’s a pleasure to have you back on the show.
MICHAEL J FOX: Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be here.
GROSS: The pandemic started just in time for you to write your epilogue. And you write that now everyone is experiencing something you’ve experienced, which is protecting other people from yourself. Can you explain how that applies to you?
GROSS: I – so I think also, like, there’s a sense of vulnerability that you’ve probably felt that everybody is feeling now.
GROSS: Right. You know, what are the limitations you face now physically?
GROSS: .
Michael J Fox On How Accepting Parkinsons Diagnosis Changed His Perspective
TV and film aside, Fox has regained his optimism and literally takes life one step at a time due to his condition.
“You have to plant your heel and shift your hips and transfer weight. I mean, all this mechanical biokinetics you have to go through to just go get a cup of coffee across the room,” he said of his life now. “But if every time, you risk falling, every step is precious.”
He shared that constantly being asked how he’s doing can get a little tiresome, but he hasn’t let it dampen his outlook on life.
“Sometimes I want to go, like, ‘Really? You wanna know? Pull up a chair. I’ll give you 45 minutes of it,”’ he said. “If you want the short answer, I’m feeling great.”
“Optimism is a choice,” he added. “But in a way, it isn’t. There’s no other choice. I don’t think there’s any other viable choice than to hope for the best and work toward it.”
Linda Ronstadt Ozzy Osbourne And Muhammad Ali Are Just Some Of The Well
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, which leads to various neurological and mobility-related symptoms. The Parkinson’s Foundation estimates the number of people living with Parkinson’s at 1 million in the United States alone, with over 10 million cases worldwide.
In January 2020, Ozzy Osbourne became the latest public figure to announce a Parkinson’s diagnosis, helping to raise the profile of this little-understood neurological condition. Read on to learn more about how other celebrities living with Parkinson’s disease have managed their condition and the work they’ve done to raise awareness.
Why Michael J Fox Waited Seven Years To Reveal His Parkinsons Diagnosis
Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
Like many kids, Michael J. Fox had his eyes on a career as a rockstar. “I grew up admiring rockstars like Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page,” he told The New York Times Magazine. “That’s what I thought being famous was. But I wasn’t a rockstar.”
Many might argue that the Canadian actor is a rockstar — just in a different way. His Michael J. Fox Foundation has raised more than $900 million to fund research to find a cure for Parkinson’s, a disease that has affectedMuhammad Ali, Neil Diamond, Jesse Jackson, Ozzy Osbourne, Linda Ronstadt and Fox himself, who was diagnosed in 1991.
Since going public with his diagnosis in 1998, the Back to the Future and Family Ties star hasn’t shied away from speaking out about the disease’s impact on his life and championing the search for a cure.
“I refer to Parkinson’s and the effect it’s had on my life as a gift — and people are completely dubious of that and kind of wonder how I could say that,” he told CNN in 2010. “I…qualify it by saying it’s a gift that keeps on taking, but it is a gift, because it’s really opened me up to more kind of compassionate, curious, risk-taking person.”
But between the time he was diagnosed and his announcement, he spent seven years, both suffering and learning about the disease — and keeping his condition out of the spotlight.
Michael J Fox Recalls Watching Back To The Future With Princess Diana
“I was underneath the phone, against the kitchen wall, on the kitchen floor alone with a broken arm, waiting for the ambulance to show up,” he said on Sunday TODAY. “I couldn’t believe the amount of fury I had toward myself for being so careless to do this, and to let down my surgeons.
“I had been so stubborn about being independent, and my family, who’d been so patient during all this. And I couldn’t put a shiny face on it. I couldn’t make lemonade out of this. In fact, I was out of the lemonade business. I just kind of felt more sorry for myself, and I’d never done that before. And I questioned my optimism.”
Fittingly for a man with five Emmy Awards, watching television helped restore his positive outlook on life. He binge-watched old Westerns from the ’50s and ’60s while recovering from his broken arm.
“I kind of realized that this happened before I was born, these shows,” he told Willie. “I’m part of that continuum. I’ll be survived by my reruns. That gave me a little bit of a dash of immortality.
“All these things were connected. And they all pointed me toward how grateful I was for my interaction with my kids. They’re all smarter than me, and all better looking than me, they’re all taller than me. And so I look up to them.”
Fox’s Career Was Thriving When He First Noticed Twitching In His Hand
For seven seasons from 1982 to 1989, Fox played Alex P. Keaton on the hit sitcom Family Ties, winning three Emmys for portraying a Republican with liberal parents who were former hippies. In the midst of his television success, he also found silver screen fame in the Back to the Future trilogy as Marty McFly from 1985 to 1990. Off-screen, he married Family Ties costar Tracy Pollan in 1988 and they had their first child in 1989.
Life was looking good, as he kept landing starring movie roles, one after the other. But while he was on the Gainesville, Florida set of Doc Hollywood in 1991, something felt off. He noticed a twitch in his left pinkie finger. A neurologist assured him that he had probably somehow injured his funny bone, as he explained to People.
But six months later, things were worse. His entire left hand was trembling and his shoulder was stiff and achy. He consulted another doctor and was told he had Parkinson’s disease, which typically affects patients over the age of 60. He was just 30.
“It was incomprehensible,” he told People. “The doctor said I would be able to function for years and years. But even talking in those terms was strange.”
Michael J. Fox, 1991
Neil Diamond: Stepping Away From Touring Because Of Parkinsons
Singer Neil Diamond announced on January 22, 2018, that he was retiring from touring because of a recent Parkinson’s diagnosis. The news came during his 50th anniversary tour, as Diamond announced he would have to cancel upcoming concert dates in Australia and New Zealand. In a statement on his official website, he said, “It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years.”
Diamond reassured fans that he would continue writing and recording music, but he would not perform in front of live audiences in the future. His hits over the years have included “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon,” “Sweet Caroline,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Song Sung Blue,” and “Red, Red Wine.”
Diamond was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2018 Grammy Awards.
Neil Diamond And 6 Other Famous People With Parkinsons Disease
On 22 January 2018 there were reports that the music legend Neil Diamond had retired from touring after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
According to HealthDay News, the 76-year-old singer apologised to fans who bought tickets for the last leg of his 50th anniversary tour.
“The onset of the disease has made it difficult to travel and perform on a large-scale basis,” he explained.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and causes trembling in the arms, hands, legs and jaw. It is caused when certain nerve cells die or become impaired. It affects around one in 100 people older than sixty.
While the symptoms can be controlled, there is nothing that can stop the disease from progressing.
Although the symptoms can be dramatically reduced, Parkinson’s disease can be challenging to live with as it doesn’t only cause difficulty of movement and cognitive skills, but can lead to depression, sleep problems, speech problems and pain.
The singer of hits like Sweet Caroline and Cracklin’ Rosie is not the only celeb affected by the illness. Here are six other famous people who are or were affected by Parkinson’s.
1. George H.W. Bush
2. Michael J. Fox
3. Billy Connolly
This Scottish comedian announced in 2014 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and prostate cancer on the same day. Luckily, his sense of humour is helping him laugh about the situation and he often makes fun of his symptoms during shows.
4. Charles M. Schulz
Linda Ronstadt: Parkinson’s Took Her Voice But Not Her Spirit
Known for her rich soprano vocals as the lead singer of the 1960s band the Stone Poneys, Linda Ronstadt opened up about her Parkinson’s disease diagnosis to AARP The Magazine in 2013. After two very bad tick bites in the 1980s, Ronstadt says her health never fully recovered — but she didn’t visit a neurologist until she was no longer able to sing.
“I didn’t know why I couldn’t sing — all I knew was that it was muscular or mechanical. Then when I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, I was finally given the reason. I now understand that no one can sing with Parkinson’s disease. No matter how hard you try. And in my case, I can’t sing a note,” she told AARP.
Famous People Whose Lives Are Touched By Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a heartbreaking condition that can affect anyone, even if they are rich and famous, extremely active, and intelligent. But though this disease does not discriminate between race, gender, and sometimes age, celebrities and patient advocates do what they can to raise awareness for Parkinson’s disease, and support each other when they need to.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser thatsupports HTML5 video
These 15 celebrities have either been diagnosed with this awful disease, or have had family members who are affected by it.
Celebrities Who’ve Been Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Disease
After getting a life-changing Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, it can be comforting to find out who else has the same diagnosis. While it’s important to have a friend, family member or acquaintance to talk to in person who knows exactly what you’re going through. Knowing one of your favorite public figures is experiencing similar symptoms as you can also help you feel less alone. These famous folks have spoken out about their condition, bringing awareness and visibility to conditions the general population might not know much about, if anything at all.
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurological condition caused by the degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls movement. As a result, the nerve cells cannot produce dopamine, a chemical that helps coordinate movement. Hallmark symptoms include shaking in limbs when the limbs are at rest; slowness of movement, where you cannot move your body as fast as you would like; and rigidity, or stiffness in the body. Parkinson’s also causes a number of symptoms unrelated to movement, including digestive issues, loss of smell, chronic pain, depression and blood pressure issues.
He Got Four Doctors Opinions Before Accepting His Fate
When he shared the news with Pollan, she cried out of fear. “Neither of us quite understood. We hugged each other and assured ourselves that we’d be able to deal with it,” Pollan told People.
It just didn’t seem right. Fox was young and in good shape — and doctors agreed that he must have been misdiagnosed. But after four doctors had the same initial reaction followed by the same eventual diagnosis, there was no escaping. He searched for an explanation. What mistake did he make in his life that caused this?
After ruling out everything from childhood hockey accidents to film stunts, he realized the truth. “There’s just that thing — fate,” he explained to People. “You’re the guy it touches.”
He Told Tv Execs About His Parkinsons Before Spin City
After the successful 1995 film The American President, he decided it was time to step away from films and stay in one place with a TV show. And that’s when the sitcom Spin City about the New York City mayor’s office came along.
Before stepping into the lead role as Mike Flaherty, he revealed his diagnosis to the network’s then-president Robert Iger and the production company DreamWorks’ head Jeffrey Katzenberg. “I said it could get very bad or not get bad. They said, ‘Let’s go!’” Fox recalled to People.
The surgery helped. He returned to the show that falls, but by the end of 1998, he was ready to speak even more publicly and revealed his diagnosis on the cover of the December 7, 1998 issue of People.
Michael J Fox Opens Up About Acting With Parkinsons
Two years after the accident, Fox is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which has become the world’s preeminent organization for Parkinson’s disease research.
“We started the foundation literally with nothing,” he said. “We got the best people on it doing the best work they can, as quickly as they can.
“We’ve been responsible for 17 active therapies that are now being used that were never thought of before. We funded $1 billion in research. This is our 20th year. If we knew it was gonna be 2020, we would’ve started a year earlier or a year later because this year really blows,” he quipped.
Fox also shares in his new memoir that he’s retiring from acting due to the effects of living with Parkinson’s disease.
He previously retired at 40, and he threw his energy into his foundation, but he later returned to acting, guest-starring on “The Good Wife” and “Rescue Me,” the latter of which earned him his fifth Emmy.
Fox Says He Was ‘so Scared’ During The Early Years
Accepting his newfound reality, Fox tried to move forward with his life. At home, his young son Sam dubbed his left hand “the shaky hand” and made a game of it, but at work, it was getting harder to hide. As photographers and reporters anxiously awaited his arrival at the Golden Globes in January 1998, he stalled in the limo as his left arm and leg shook uncontrollably. He asked the driver to take another spin around the block. Three spins later, his medication kicked into effect and he was able to proceed without anyone aware of his secret. He even snagged the Best Actor trophy that night.
It wasn’t that he was ashamed of it. It was just that he had to learn how to deal with it on his own. So Fox continued working. Telling whoever needed to know, but mostly keeping it to a tight group.
Those seven years saw a period where he focused on comedies: Life with Mikey , For Love or Money and Greedy . “My decision making was ridiculous,” he admitted in 2019 to the New York Times Magazine of the time. “It wasn’t based on truth.”
Looking back on that period now, he’s able to admit his vulnerability. “I was so scared,” Fox explained to the New York Times Magazine. “I was so unfamiliar with Parkinson’s. Someone is saying your life is going to be completely changed. Yeah? When?” He admits he took on projects because of “time restrictions” and “financial pressures” since they were “inflated in my head,” so he chose as many “quick successful movies” as he could.
Ozzy Osbourne: Coming To Terms With His Diagnosis
Former Black Sabbath front man Ozzy Osbourne revealed the news of his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in an emotional interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America. Accompanied by his wife, Sharon, Osbourne confirmed that he’d been diagnosed with Parkinson’s in February 2019 following a series of health issues — though his case is mild and, as Sharon emphasized, “it’s not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination.”
“I’m no good with secrets,” the rock star confessed. “I cannot walk around with it anymore ‘cause it’s like I’m running out of excuses.”
The diagnosis coincided with a bad fall and subsequent surgery on his neck, as Osbourne began to experience numbness and chills in one arm and both legs. “I don’t know if that’s the Parkinson’s or what,” he said. “That’s the problem … it’s a weird feeling.” He’s now taking Parkinson’s medication along with nerve pills and has planned a trip to see a specialist in Switzerland in April 2020.
“I feel better now I’ve owned up to the fact that I have a case of Parkinson’s,” Osbourne said. “And I hope hang around, because I need them.”
Muhammad Ali: A Fighter For Parkinson’s Awareness
The beloved boxer Muhammad Ali coped with shaking hands and mobility challenges long before he retired from the sport in 1981. In 1984, doctors diagnosed Ali with Parkinson’s disease. Ali, the philanthropist Jimmy Walker, and Abraham Lieberman, MD, established the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center for movement disorders, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. It serves as a resource center for Parkinson’s and other movement disorders, including Huntington’s disease and essential tremor, for both patients and their families.
Ali was long associated with the annual gala fundraising event for Barrow Neurological Institute, Celebrity Fight Night, where he was the featured guest. Awareness-building runs in the family: His daughter Rasheda Ali wrote a book for children about Parkinson’s disease, .
Muhammad Ali died in June 2016 at age 74.
Fox Remains Optimistic That There Will Be A Cure
From the start, his attitude about his diagnosis was clear — and became his trademark: optimism mixed with reality.
That fall, he went back to Spin City, but eventually left after two more seasons. “One of the reasons I left Spin City was that I felt my face hardening,” he told theNew York Times Magazine. “My movements were constricted. If you watch episodes from the last couple of seasons, you’ll see I would anchor myself against a desk or the wall. Eventually, it was too burdensome.”
Knowing his limits — and knowing where to channel his energy — became his priority. By the end of that year, he launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and poured all his efforts into its work.
Despite returning to acting and writing three best-selling books , his true purpose now remains on his foundation. “I still believe in a cure,” he told The New York Times Magazine.
Fox has been known to pick up a guitar at his foundation’s annual benefit and reprise the iconic Back to the Future“Johnny B. Goode” scene — with Coldplay’s Chris Martin even joining him in 2013. After all, Fox is a true rockstar.
Michael J Fox: Parkinson’s Champion For A Cure
Michael J. Fox is among the most well-known people living with Parkinson’s disease. Many remember him as the fresh-faced young star of the 1980s TV comedy hit Family Ties and the popular Back to the Future movies. Though most people with Parkinson’s are diagnosed between ages 40 and 60, Fox was diagnosed at age 30 — but his diagnosis didn’t slow him down.
He shared his young-onset Parkinson’s disease diagnosis with the world in 1998 and, two years later, founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Fox is committed to helping the foundation build Parkinson’s disease awareness and raise funds for research into prevention, treatment, and a cure. In addition to his advocacy work, he’s still a working actor; some more recent roles have included characters with Parkinson’s in the TV shows The Good Wife and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
“As long as I play a guy with Parkinson’s, I can do anything,” he joked in a 2013 AARP interview.
Brian Grant: Staying Positive With Parkinson’s
Brian Grant spent 12 seasons as a National Basketball Association player, playing for the Sacramento Kings, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Phoenix Suns. As an NBA player, he was known for his positive team commitment as well as his work with disadvantaged children. According to an interview with ESPN, he was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease in January 2009, following his retirement from professional basketball. He went on to found the Brian Grant Foundation, which is dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring those living with Parkinson’s disease to include exercise as medicine.
Freddie Roach: Boxing Trainer With Parkinson’s
Frederick “Freddie” Roach is a boxing trainer and former professional boxer. Bryant Gumbel included his story in the HBO series Real Sports, detailing Roach’s efforts to control his Parkinson’s disease with medication and continued work as a trainer. Roach, who began to show Parkinson’s symptoms over 20 years ago, trains world-famous boxers at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, which he owns. His client list has included the likes of Amir Khan, Manny Pacquiao, Mark Wahlberg, and Georges St. Pierre.
But having Parkinson’s hasn’t dimmed his commitment to boxing, even as it’s caused his speech to slur and his left arm to shake. “I’m in the gym every day; it’s part of life. Instead of taking a vacation, I like what I do. My vacations are right here,” Roach said in a 2015 CBS interview.
Michael Richard Clifford: Parkinson’s In Space
Michael Richard “Rich” Clifford began his career as a NASA astronaut in 1990. He’s since made three space flights, accumulating 665 hours orbiting Earth. Though diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1994, he continued to fly. Clifford was 42 and in apparent good health when he discovered his Parkinson’s disease, signaled at first by difficulty moving his right arm and hand correctly. In 2012, the American Academy of Neurology gave him the Public Leadership in Neurology Award for increasing awareness of Parkinson’s disease and for encouraging people living with Parkinson’s to continue to pursue their dreams.
“Everyone with PD handles it differently,” said Clifford in an interview with the Michael J. Fox Foundation. “Don’t let it get in the way of living. Life is too good. Remember, keep going — the sky’s the limit.”
Ben Petrick: The Major League With Parkinson’s
Ben Petrick dreamed of a stellar baseball career as a catcher with the Colorado Rockies. He played in 240 Major League games, the majority of which came after Parkinson’s disease struck him at age 22 in 2000. He retired from baseball in 2004.
He’s since authored , a book whose title in part references the 40,000 Americans diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease every year. The book also recounts his experiences in Major League Baseball while coping with Parkinson’s disease. According to an ESPN interview, Petrick’s father was also diagnosed with the condition but maintains a positive attitude, saying that although he has Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s doesn’t have him.
Muhammad Ali Struggle With Parkinsons Disease
If there’s one name thatthe world will never forget, it’s that of the greatest boxer of all time:Muhammad Ali. The Olympic gold medal winner was known as a living legend. Hedefeated a long list of some of the most famous boxers in history includingGeorge Foreman and Joe Frazier.
Ali is still history’s only three-time world heavyweight champion to date. He devoted his time outside the boxing ring by using his fame for influence.
He actively campaignedfor cultural pride among African Americans and, after his diagnosis, spent thelast thirty years of his life to raising awareness about the effects ofParkinson’s disease to the public.
Muhammad Ali wasdiagnosed with PD in the year 1984. Just three years earlier, the legendaryboxer had declared his retirement from boxing. During the next 32 years of hislife, Ali remained one of the most renowned people to battle the condition.
Our Recommended products for Parkinson’s disease
We are amazon affiliates, please support us by clicking on the link above.
He used his publicplatform to spread awareness and advocated heavily for more government fundingtowards research. As well as donating his own royalties to research projects,Ali began an annual Celebrity Fight Night to raise money for research.
Jesse Jacksonstruggle With Parkinsons Disease
A part of Martin LutherKing Junior’s inner circle and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the worldwas truly saddened when it heard the news of Jesse Jackson’s diagnosis withParkinson’s disease.
At the age of 76, therenowned politician and social activist informed the public of the news andshared his struggles.
Initially, when he firstdiscovered the tremor symptoms, he tried to work through them. However, at onepoint it could no longer be ignored. After numerous tests run by the doctor,Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
According to a quote fromJesse Jackson himself, he sees the diagnosis of Parkinson’s as
“a signal that I must make lifestyle changes and dedicate myself to physical therapy in hopes of slowing the disease’s progression.”
Jesse Jackson
In a statement in 2015,he did admit to attempting to make the change. Jackson now devotes his time tomeditation, physical exercise, and prayer every day to help him cope.
Our Recommended products for Parkinson’s disease
We are amazon affiliates, please support us by clicking on the link above.
Jesse Jackson was born inGreenville, South Carolina and is a two-time presidential candidate for theDemocrats.
As well as being very close to the causes of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., he has also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Bill Clinton and successfully negotiated the release of three American soldiers held prisoners in Yugoslavia.
Famous Celebs Living With Parkinsons Disease
Certainly, Parkinson’s disease impacts people whatever status they have, even the famous ones. Below are popular personalities suffering from the disease and how they dealt with it.
1. Muhammad Ali
Ali was the People’s Champion of his time. Three years after retiring from boxing, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. As someone with the disease, he worked on fund-raising projects for Parkinson’s research until the 2000s. He even bore the Olympic Flag way back in 2012.
In addition, the former boxing champ was Parkinson’s Foundation’s longtime friend. As such, he elevated awareness of the disease all over the world and helped put up the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. His fight against the illness lasted until 2016, but his legacy stays on.
2. Michael J. Fox
Also a philanthropist, actor Michael J. Fox is among the most famous Parkinson’s advocates around the globe. He turned out as a household name, like Marty McFly in the renowned film “Back to the Future.” More so, the actor started to notice symptoms of early-onset PD at age 29 and from then on and has been committed since he started the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The severe illness hasn’t hindered Fox from writing three books and continuing to appear on various TV shows.
3. Pope John Paul II
4. Freddie Roach
5. George H.W. Bush
6. Linda Ronstadt
7. Robin Williams
Ways to Prevent Disease
Alan Alda Reveals He Has Parkinson’s Disease
US actor Alan Alda, star of M*A*S*H and The West Wing, has revealed he has Parkinson’s disease.
The 82-year-old told the CBS This Morning show he was diagnosed three-and-a-half years ago but had only decided to speak about it now.
“The reason I want to talk about it in public is… I’ve had a full life since then,” he said.
“You still have things you can do,” he went on, revealing he was “taking boxing lessons three times a week.”
Parkinson’s is a progressive condition in which the brain becomes damaged. It can lead to tremors, difficulty moving, speech changes and eventually memory problems.
NEW: Actor @AlanAlda just revealed he has Parkinson’s disease. The award-winning actor says he was diagnosed with the disease three and a half years ago. https://t.co/cYba2YKewS pic.twitter.com/OpIUBvCKWi
— CBS News July 31, 2018
View original tweet on Twitter
Alda is best known for playing Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce in the TV series M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1983.
He went on to play presidential candidate Arnold Vinick in The West Wing and was Oscar nominated in 2005 for The Aviator.
Alda said he had noticed during recent interviews to promote his new podcast that he “could see thumb twitch in some shots”.
“I thought, it’s probably only a matter of time before somebody does a story about this from a sad point of view but that’s not where I am,” he continued.
Alda said he had gone to his doctor to ask for a scan because he suspected he might have the disease.