Linda Ronstadt: I Have Parkinson's Disease

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Linda Ronstadt has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The 67-year-old singer of such classic 1970s hits as “When Will I be Loved” and “You’re no Good” got the bad news eight months ago but may have been exhibiting symptoms for the past eight years.

Although she had experienced common symptoms of Parkinson’s for awhile, such as trembling hands, she became seriously concerned when she couldn’t sing. In an interview with AARP’s Alanna Nash, Ronstadt said:

 ‘“I couldn’t sing…and I couldn’t figure out why. I knew it was mechanical. I knew it had to do with the muscles, but I thought it might have also had something to do with the tick disease that I had. And it didn’t occur to me to go to a neurologist.”’

When she finally did go to a neurologist and was diagnosed her with the disorder, she described her reaction as “completely shocked.” This is, perhaps, not an unusual response.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that develops slowly, so it’s not uncommon to experience symptoms for many years, as Ronstadt did, before suspecting a serious problem. According to the Mayo Clinic, it often starts “with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand.” Other early symptoms include a lack of expression of the face, slurred speech, and slowed movements. Eventually, tremors typically spread to the limbs, face, and jaw. These and other neuromuscular symptoms of Parkinson’s worsen with time. 

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke points out, however, that the progression of this disease is unpredictable. It can lead to total incapacity for some, yet others may experience only minor motor problems. It usually strikes people who are over the age of 50 but can also occur in younger individuals.

Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s, there are medications that may help to reduce the severity of the symptoms. Surgery may also be appropriate for some patients. Because the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are subtle in the beginning and could be caused by a host of other neurological disorders, individuals who experience any motor movement problems, such as tremors, slowed movements, a lack of coordination, and speech abnormalities are advised to seek medical advice and treatment.

Ronstadt is one of the 60,000 Americans who are diagnosed with this condition each year. Other celebrities who have Parkinson’s disease include actor Michael J. Fox, boxing champ Muhammad Ali, and legendary evangelist Billy Graham.

Follow Christine Mattice on Twitter @ChrisMattice