Alan Alda Reveals Parkinson's Diagnosis | MyParkinsonsTeam

Connect with others who understand.

sign up Log in
Resources
About MyParkinsonsTeam
Powered By

Alan Alda Reveals Parkinson's Diagnosis

Posted on November 29, 2018

By Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, July 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Alan Alda revealed in July that he's been living with Parkinson's disease for more than three years.

"The reason I want to talk about it in public is that I was diagnosed three-and-a-half years ago, and I've had a full life since," he said on the CBS television show "This Morning."


The 82-year-old -- who starred as Hawkeye in the hit TV series M*A*S*H -- said one motivation for going public about his condition is that he "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," said Alda, who noted that he boxes three times a week, plays tennis and marches to John Philip Sousa music. "Marching to march music is good for Parkinson's," he explained.

Alda said he wants to reassure people diagnosed with the movement disorder that it's still possible to do things, CBS News reported.

That notion was seconded by John Lehr, president of the Parkinson's Foundation.

"Alan Alda's announcement today that he has been living with Parkinson's disease since 2015 further proves that people can maintain a high quality of life after a diagnosis of Parkinson's," he said. "There are many ways that people living with Parkinson's can control the symptoms of the disease with exercise and physical therapy to help maintain mobility and balance."

More than one million Americans have Parkinson's disease, which causes problems such as muscle tremors and stiffness, and poor balance and coordination. Actor Michael J. Fox and the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson are among those with the condition.

Alda said he decided to see a doctor after reading an article that said acting out your dreams is sometimes an early warning sign of Parkinson's disease, CBS News reported.


"I mean, I was having a dream that somebody was attacking me and I threw a sack of potatoes at them," Alda said. "But what I was really doing is throwing a pillow at my wife."

He said he had no other symptoms at the time, but a thumb twitch developed a few months later, CBS News reported.

Alda urged people with Parkinson's to not "follow quackery," but rather to find "out what real science is coming up with that helps." Science is a passion of Alda's -- Stony Brook University has named its Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science after him, and he's long been an on-camera advocate for scientific research.

But revealing his diagnosis was also about "helping my family not be worried," Alda said on "This Morning."

"It's common for us all to go to the worst
thought, but what's interesting is, this is a disease that is different for almost everybody who has it," he said. "There are some common symptoms, but mostly everybody is different. And each day is different from the next… But the main thing is there's stuff you can do. It's like a puzzle to be solved -- what do I have to adapt to it, to carry on a normal life?"

Alda added, "And I enjoy solving puzzles."


SOURCES: John Lehr, Parkinson's Foundation; CBS News, July 31, 2018
Copyright © 2018 All rights reserved.

Here are some questions and conversations from MyParkinsonsTeam:

Has anyone been diagnosed under the age of 50?

Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Loved One with Parkinson’s

"If you’ve been newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s, below are some PD food for thought: It’s okay to make the choices that will make your life easier, whether it’s about where to live, your work or how you spend your time."

What do you think about celebrities like Alda speaking up about the realities of living with a chronic condition like Parkinson's?
Share in the comments below or directly on MyParkinsonsTeam.

Posted on November 29, 2018
All updates must be accompanied by text or a picture.

Become a Subscriber

Get the latest articles about Parkinson's disease sent to your inbox.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent Articles

Welcome to MyParkinsonsTeam — the place to connect with others living with Parkinson's disease. ...

Getting Started on MyParkinsonsTeam (VIDEO)

Welcome to MyParkinsonsTeam — the place to connect with others living with Parkinson's disease. ...
It’s natural to be afraid of the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the risks of gett...

Do COVID-19 Vaccines Worsen Parkinson’s Symptoms? What We Currently Know

It’s natural to be afraid of the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the risks of gett...
People with Parkinson’s disease may develop a symptom called hypomimia, which is a loss or reduct...

Facial Masking (Hypomimia) With Parkinson’s Disease: Causes and Management

People with Parkinson’s disease may develop a symptom called hypomimia, which is a loss or reduct...
In a survey of caregivers on MyParkinsonsTeam, 88 percent reported feeling stressed watching thei...

Survey Results: Stresses and Rewards of Parkinson’s Caregiving

In a survey of caregivers on MyParkinsonsTeam, 88 percent reported feeling stressed watching thei...
Your body needs just the right balance of vitamins and minerals to function properly. When you’re...

Magnesium and Parkinson’s Disease: Are Supplements Beneficial?

Your body needs just the right balance of vitamins and minerals to function properly. When you’re...
Both Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease are progressive neurodegenerative disorders tha...

Parkinson’s vs. Huntington’s Disease: What’s the Difference?

Both Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease are progressive neurodegenerative disorders tha...
MyParkinsonsTeam My Parkinson's disease Team

Thank you for subscribing!

Become a member to get even more:

sign up for free

close