Singer-songwriter Carly Simon, 83, announced Monday that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Simon shared the news in a statement to ABC News, explaining that she has been "learning how to live with Parkinson's disease."
"It’s taken me some time to understand the diagnosis, to adjust to it, and to decide how much I wanted to say about it publicly," Simon stated. She described the illness as unpredictable, noting that "some days I’m so tired I can’t get the day moving at all. On others, it gives me a little more room to move, think, work, and feel like myself."
Simon's health issues began with arthritis in her knees and hip, leading to three joint replacement surgeries. Following these procedures, she experienced mobility difficulties, struggling to stand from low chairs and requiring assistance to walk.
After an extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, she received the Parkinson's diagnosis. Her treatment includes medication aimed at managing stiffness and other symptoms. "There is no tidy or predictable schedule to the illness. It does not consult my calendar before deciding what kind of day I am going to have," Simon said.