US actor Alan Alda, best known for his roles in M*A*S*H and The West Wing, has revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease three-and-a-half years ago. The 82-year-old told CBS This Morning that he decided to speak publicly about his condition to share a message of hope.
“The reason I want to talk about it in public is… I’ve had a full life since then,” Alda said. “You still have things you can do,” he added, noting that he takes boxing lessons three times a week.
Alda said he noticed his thumb twitching during recent interviews and suspected he might have the disease after reading an article about early symptoms. He recalled acting out a dream in which he threw a pillow at his wife, mistaking it for a sack of potatoes.
“This is not to short-change people who are suffering with really severe symptoms,” Alda said. “But in the very beginning, to be immobilised by fear and think the worst thing has happened to you… you still have things you can do.”
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition affecting around 145,000 people in the UK and more than 10 million worldwide. Symptoms include tremors, slow movement, and muscle stiffness. Steve Ford, CEO of Parkinson's UK, praised Alda's announcement, saying it would help raise awareness and drive research.
