Ozzy Osbourne had Parkinson's disease: What to know about the diagnosis
Ozzy Osbourne, Prince of Darkness, dies at 76
The Hollywood Reporter's Shirley Halperin joins LiveNOW's Austin Westfall to reflect on the life and legacy of Ozzy Osbourne.
Heavy metal musician Ozzy Osbourne died earlier this week, just weeks after his final farewell show and five years after revealing he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Ozzy Osbourne had Parkinson’s disease
In a 2020 interview with Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America," Osbourne revealed that he had a "miserable" year after falling in the bathroom.
What They Said:
"When I had the fall, it was pitch black. I went to the bathroom and I fell," recounted Osbourne, while sitting next to his wife, Sharon Osbourne. "I just fell and landed like a slam on the floor and I remember lying there thinking, ‘Well, you’ve done it now,’ really calm. Sharon [called] an ambulance. After that, it was all downhill."
During the interview, the musician also revealed he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
Ozzy Osbourne attends the Ozzy Osbourne Album Special on SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard Channel at at SiriusXM Studios on July 29, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
"It's PRKN 2," Sharon shared of his diagnosis. "There's so many different types of Parkinson's; it's not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body. And it's -- it's like you have a good day, a good day, and then a really bad day."
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Dig deeper:
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly affects the dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra.
Symptoms generally develop slowly over years. The progression of symptoms is often a bit different from one person to another due to the diversity of the disease.
How do doctors diagnose Parkinson's disease?
LiveNOW's Andy Mac spoke with Dr. Michael Okun, a neurologist from The Parkinson's Foundation about the disease, how it's diagnosed, treatment options and more amid reports that a Parkinson's expert visited the White House eight times in the last year.
It typically starts with tremors and is characterized by slow movement, a shuffling gait, stiff limbs, balance problems and slurred speech.
In advanced cases, people may be unable to walk or care for themselves. They also can suffer from depression as well as memory and thinking problems.
Who gets Parkinson’s disease?
About 1 million Americans are living with Parkinson’s, and 10 million people worldwide, the Parkinson’s Foundation estimates. It usually appears after age 60, although sometimes it can develop before age 50.
The cause remains largely unknown. Scientists believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors are the cause.
According to the foundation, most experts believe genetic and environmental factors are behind the disease. Dozens of gene mutations linked to Parkinson's have been discovered and genetics account for 10% to 15% of all cases. Other factors suspected of increasing the risk include head injuries, exposure to pesticides and herbicides and where you live.
Is there a cure for Parkinson’s disease?
There is no cure, but there are treatments, including medications that affect dopamine levels and a surgically implanted tremor-blocking device. Patients can also benefit from physical and occupational therapy.
While Parkinson’s itself isn’t considered fatal, people can die from complications of the disease, including lung problems as muscle weakness impedes the ability to cough and to swallow.
Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76
The backstory:
Osbourne’s family announced his death on Tuesday in a family statement. He was 76 years old.
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"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time," a family statement said.
He is survived by Sharon, and his children.
Other celebrities announce Parkinson’s disease diagnoses
Big picture view:
Last year, Brett Favre announced he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The Hall of Famer delivered the news at his congressional hearing on federal welfare reform.
Actor Michael J. Fox has also been outspoken about his ongoing battle with the disease.
In 2023, the then-61-year-old spoke candidly, addressing the challenges he faces daily with the incurable disease and said he doesn’t believe he’ll live to be 80 years old.
"[Parkinson’s] banging on the door… I'm not going to lie, it's getting hard. It's getting harder. It's getting tougher. Every day it's tougher … that's the way it is. I mean, you know, who do I see about that?," Fox said.
The Source: This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press, the Parkinson’s Foundation, previous FOX Local reporting contributed.