Alan Alda is a beloved actor best known for playing a doctor on M*A*S*H and now the doctor is a patient. Today, the 82-year-old revealed to CBS This Morning that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease three and a half years ago, and he is not letting that get him down.
He told them a few years ago, he started acting out his dreams while he was sleeping and he read an article that said that is a symptom of the disease, so he went to his doctor to get tested. The doctor asked him if he had any other symptoms and he said no. Which made the doctor wonder why he wanted to get tested, but he still did the test. Turns out he does have it and since then he has been living a fuller life than before he had it.
On Twitter today, he wrote, “I decided to let people know I have Parkinson’s to encourage others to take action. I was Diagnosed 3 and a half years ago, but my life is full. I act, I give talks, I do my podcast, which I love. If you get a diagnosis, keep moving!” Then he added, “I take boxing lessons 3 days a week, play singles tennis twice a week, and take a mild pill – all Dr. recommended. I even juggle a little. And I’m not entering dementia. I’m no more demented than I was before. Maybe I should rephrase that. Really, I’m good.”
How many 28-year-olds are that active, let alone people that are the reverse age? But it is his positive attitude and early diagnosis that is helping to slow his progression down.
By getting his story out there, it might help someone else. That is part of the reason why he revealed it today. That and to promote his podcast Clear & Vivid on Apple.
Alda is not the first legend this year to reveal that he has it, Neil Diamond also revealed in January, that he was also diagnosed with it.
