Alan Alda has revealed that he has been living with Parkinson's disease. The actor — who first rose to fame for playing Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H — made the announcement on CBS's This Morning earlier today.
"The reason I want to talk about it in public is that I was diagnosed three-and-a-half years ago, and I've had a full life since," he said, adding that he wanted to share his experience with the disease before "somebody does a story about this from a sad point of view."
Alda explained that he went to his doctor after reading a New York Times article that said acting out dreams could be an early sign of the disease.
"I was having a dream that somebody was attacking me and I threw a sack of potatoes at them," he said on This Morning. "But what I was really doing is throwing a pillow at my wife."
A few months later, he noticed a recurring twitch in his thumb.
In spite of the disease, Alda said that he maintains an active lifestyle, going boxing multiple times a week, playing tennis and marching to marching band music. He's also still acting, giving talks and producing his own podcast — oh, and juggling, apparently.
As for his decision to go public with his diagnosis, he referenced the Alan Alda Center for Communication Science at Stony Brook University.
"It'd be kind of ironic if I kept quiet about this when a center for communicating science is named after me," he told This Morning.
Watch a clip from the CBS morning show interview below.
"The reason I want to talk about it in public is that I was diagnosed three-and-a-half years ago, and I've had a full life since," he said, adding that he wanted to share his experience with the disease before "somebody does a story about this from a sad point of view."
Alda explained that he went to his doctor after reading a New York Times article that said acting out dreams could be an early sign of the disease.
"I was having a dream that somebody was attacking me and I threw a sack of potatoes at them," he said on This Morning. "But what I was really doing is throwing a pillow at my wife."
A few months later, he noticed a recurring twitch in his thumb.
In spite of the disease, Alda said that he maintains an active lifestyle, going boxing multiple times a week, playing tennis and marching to marching band music. He's also still acting, giving talks and producing his own podcast — oh, and juggling, apparently.
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!
— Alan Alda (@alanalda) July 31, 2018
More>> pic.twitter.com/zHrNxvlwcS
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.
— Alan Alda (@alanalda) July 31, 2018
Maybe I should rephrase that.
Really, I'm good.
As for his decision to go public with his diagnosis, he referenced the Alan Alda Center for Communication Science at Stony Brook University.
"It'd be kind of ironic if I kept quiet about this when a center for communicating science is named after me," he told This Morning.
Watch a clip from the CBS morning show interview below.
.@AlanAlda, who just revealed his Parkinson's diagnosis, hopes sharing his story will help others suffering from the disease: https://t.co/oFKJevo8My pic.twitter.com/QfpPGSwlDU
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) July 31, 2018
