Does Neil Diamond Have Parkinsons:
The “Sweet Caroline” singer announced he had Parkinson’s in January 2018 and also revealed he’d be retiring from touring. “But somehow a calm has moved [into] the hurricane of my life, and things have gotten very quiet, as quiet as this recording studio,” said Diamond. “And I like it. I find that I like myself better. I’m easier on people, I’m easier on myself. And the blog beat goes on, and it will go on long after I’m gone. But in January 2018, Diamond revealed he’d been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder that abruptly ended his touring career. “But somehow, a calm has moved in, and the hurricane of my life, and things have gotten very quiet, as quiet as this recording studio,” he tells reporter Anthony Mason.
While Diamond announced his immediate retirement following the Parkinson’s diagnosis, he’s made a few appearances related to the Broadway show about his life and music, A Beautiful Noise. On opening night you can try these out in December, NYC theatergoers were treated to a “Sweet Caroline” singalong, which he led, at curtain call. Each year, nearly 60,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the United States.
Once a week, you’ll receive stories and insights from the Norton Healthcare family, right in your e-mail inbox. At the time, Diamond had already completed dates in North America and Europe on his 50 Year Anniversary World Tour, but had to cancel the third leg of the tour, with dates in Australia and New Zealand. Diamond announced he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in a statement on his website in January 2018. In addition to his award, which was presented by gala host Jimmy Kimmel and Keep Memory Alive’s founder and chairman Larry Ruvo, Diamond also performed a handful of his greatest hits.
While a tremor is perhaps the most recognizable symptom of Parkinson’s, the disease can also cause stiffness, slowed movement and speech changes. Diamond turns 77 on Wednesday and will get the lifetime achievement award at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. Diamond still regularly visits his Archangel Studio in Los Angeles, where the halls are decked with decades’ worth of awards, and where ‘ for the first time since that diagnosis ‘ he talked about facing Parkinson’s. Sign up for Entertainment Weekly’s free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite…stars, and more. He continued, “I was a little embarrassed, I was flattered, and I was scared. Being found out is the scariest thing you can hope, because we all have a facade, and the truth be known to all of ’em, I’m not some big star. I’m just me.” Doctors aren’t totally sure why people get Parkinson’s, though there is evidence that genetics may play a role in some cases, according to the APDA.
Most people diagnosed with PD are age 60 years or older, although some 5%-10% of people with PD are diagnosed before the age of 50. Approximately 500,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD, but given that many individuals go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed the actual number is likely much higher. Diamond performed at the 24th annual Keep Memory Alive’s Power of Love Gala benefit, where he was being honored. The Gala celebrates life and raises funds for the Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. The cause of Parkinson’s is unknown but scientists believe several factors play a role, including genetics, environmental triggers and other health conditions. Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, often causing tremors.
As nerve cells (neurons) in parts of the brain become impaired or die, people may notice problems with movement, tremor, stiffness in the limbs or trunk of the body, or impaired balance. As these symptoms become more pronounced, people may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. After half a century on the stage, musician Neil Diamond announced on Monday that he’s retiring from touring due to a recent Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. In 2018, days shy of his 77th birthday and amid his 50th anniversary tour, Diamond announced that he would be retiring from touring following the diagnosis. The lifetime achievement Grammy Award winner has kept a low profile since, although he notably performed a ‘Sweet Caroline’-set hand-washing PSA at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The third category of drugs prescribed for PD includes medications that help control the non-motor symptoms of the disease, that is, the symptoms that don’t affect movement.
Parkinson’s is a degenerative neurological disorder that impairs movement, muscle control and balance. The disease usually affects people between ages 55 and 75, but it also can develop in younger people. Although Parkinson’s is not considered fatal, the disease becomes more severe over time. The legendary singer and songwriter, 79, performed at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, where he was honored for his impactful musical contributions to the world at Keep Memory Alive’s 24th annual Power of Love Gala. Asked the hardest part of watching his life play out on the stage, he replied, “It was all pretty hard. I was a little embarrassed. I was flattered and I was scared.” The “Sweet Caroline” singer-songwriter, 82, discussed his legendary career and health in a CBS Sunday Morning interview that will air this weekend.
Other risk factors may include repeated head trauma and exposure to certain chemicals or heavy metals. Ahead of his surprise curtain-call singalong, Diamond walked the red carpet with his wife, Katie McNeil, and entered the theater to a standing ovation. When he took the mic to sing from his box seat at the theater, fans cheered and sang along to the 1969 pop classic.
Mobility and speech impairments get more severe as the disease progresses, the Mayo Clinic adds, until eventually daily activities and bodily functions become difficult to complete. The appearance marked the first time he had performed in his hometown since 2017, and was a rare sighting of the music legend. In December, the New York native surprised fans and audience members during a performance of the musical about his life, A Beautiful Noise, with an impromptu rendition of his iconic song “Sweet Caroline.” The singer retired from touring five years ago, but that hasn’t stopped him from reaching out to his devoted fans.
The affected brain cells of people with PD contain Lewy bodies — deposits of the protein alpha-synuclein. Researchers do not yet know why Lewy bodies form or what role they play in the disease. Some research suggests that the cell’s protein disposal system may fail in people with PD, causing proteins to build up to harmful levels and trigger cell death. Some researchers speculate that the protein buildup in Lewy bodies is part of an unsuccessful attempt to protect the cell from the toxicity of smaller aggregates, or collections, of synuclein. PD is the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder in the U.S., after Alzheimer’s disease.
As these symptoms progress, walking, talking, swallowing, and completing other simple tasks can become challenging. The singer-songwriter, who is 82, first announced his diagnosis and that he would be retiring from touring in 2018. But in a new interview with CBS Sunday Morning that will air this weekend, Diamond admitted he spent the two years after his doctor informed him of his diagnosis in complete denial. ‘It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring.
Several lines of research suggest that mitochondria may play a role in the development of PD. Abnormalities in the mitochondria are major sources of free radicals — molecules that damage membranes, proteins, DNA, and other parts of the cell, often referred to as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress-related changes, including free radical damage to DNA, proteins, you can try these out and fats, have been detected in the brains of individuals with PD. Some mutations that affect mitochondrial function have been identified as causes of PD. “It does have its challenges, but I’m feeling good and I feel very positive about it. I’m feeling better every day. [I’m] just dealing with it as best I can, and just keep the music coming.”
Nearly 1 million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s disease, an incurable movement disorder that progresses over time. Neil Diamond, the legendary voice behind ‘Sweet Caroline,’ ‘Kentucky Woman’ and more than a dozen top 10 hits, announced on his website Monday that he has Parkinson’s disease and will retire from touring. While most people with Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed after age 60, 5% to 10% of patients with the condition begin to experience symptoms before age 50’some as early as 20.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, known for numerous hits including “Sweet Caroline,” ”America,” ”Love on the Rocks” and “Hello Again,” was on his 50th anniversary tour and cancelled dates in Australia and New Zealand for March. “The onset of the disease has made it difficult to travel and perform on a large scale basis,” a spokesperson said, according to CBS Los Angeles. “Based on his doctors’ advice, the third leg of Diamond’s 50th Anniversary tour, set to land in Australia and New Zealand this March, has been cancelled.”