World Parkinson’s Day is observed annually on April 11 to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease and honour the legacy of James Parkinson, who identified the disease back in 1817. The date chosen is his birthday.
The day aims to increase global awareness of Parkinson’s disease, highlight the challenges faced by those living with it, and promote research, support, and advocacy.
[Wikipedia]
History
The observance of this day was established in 1997 by Parkinson’s Europe in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The inaugural event also launched the Parkinson’s Europe Charter, outlining the rights of people with Parkinson’s and advocating for better care and understanding. Over the years, the day has grown into a global movement, with organisations from over 80 countries participating.
(Source: Wikipedia)
[www.parkinsonseurope.org]
Purpose and Themes
World Parkinson’s Day focuses on:
- Raising awareness about Parkinson’s as a fast-growing neurological disease;
- Breaking stigma and encouraging people affected by Parkinson’s to speak out and unite;
- Advocating for better care and support, addressing gaps in healthcare and social services for patients and caregivers;
- Promoting research and funding for medical breakthroughs.
[WPD]
Unlucky 13 - some notable cases
1. Michael J. Fox
[El Mundo]
One of the best-known celebrities with Parkinson’s and also one of its biggest advocates, Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991 at age 29. He finally publicly revealed his diagnosis in 1998.
He launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which has become the world’s largest non-profit funder of Parkinson’s drug research and development, funding $800 million in research since its inception.
2. Rev. Jesse Jackson
[Libertad Digital]
Civil rights activist and two-time presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2015. Revealing his diagnosis in a written statement in 2017 (he was 76 at the time), he said he and his family had begun noticing “changes” three years earlier. He said he views his diagnosis as “a signal that I must make lifestyle changes and dedicate myself to physical therapy in hopes of slowing the disease’s progression.” His father also had Parkinson’s disease.
3. Muhammad Ali
[Vox]
Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali was one of the first major celebrities to go public with a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. He was diagnosed in 1984, in his 40s, three years after he retired from boxing. Ali became a fierce advocate for Parkinson’s awareness and treatment. He helped found the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1997, and also created Celebrity Fight Night to raise money for research.
Ali died in 2016 at age 74 of sepsis, which is not typically linked with Parkinson’s but could have been exacerbated by his physical condition.
4. Linda Ronstadt
[Video courtesy of TikTok]
Singer Linda Ronstadt, best known for tracks like “Desperado” and “Tracks of My Tears” has progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) — a form of parkinsonism that causes similar symptoms to Parkinson’s disease but is a distinct condition. Whereas the defining feature of Parkinson’s disease is the loss of dopamine in the brain, PSP is characterized by the accumulation of a type of protein called tau in nerve cells in the brain. This accumulation causes cells to die. PSP symptoms are more severe and progress quicker than Parkinson’s symptoms, and PSP does not respond to Parkinson’s medication.
Now 73, Ronstadt has been open about the challenges of her condition, which requires her to spend most of her time at home since she has difficulty standing and moving.
5. Alan Alda
[AARP]
Actor Alan Alda, best known for roles in “M*A*S*H,” “The West Wing,” “The Blacklist” and “The Aviator,” revealed in 2018, at age 82, that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s three and a half years earlier.
Alda has been open about the steps he’s taking to treat his symptoms, including exercise like boxing, tennis and juggling.
6. Neil Diamond
[Biography]
Singer-songwriter Neil Diamond shared his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2018, at age 76. He retired from concert touring due to the physical challenges caused by Parkinson’s.
However, Diamond said that he would like to try performing again, in a format he can handle.
“I’m doing pretty well. I’m active. I take my meds. I do my workouts. I’m in pretty good shape. I’m feeling good. I want to stay productive. I still have my voice. I just can’t do the traveling that I once did, but I have my wife there supporting me (and) friends,” he told The Associated Press.
7. Janet Reno
[IMDb]
Janet Reno served as the US Attorney General from 1993 to 2001 (the first woman to hold the position) and discovered she had Parkinson’s disease in 1995 at age 57. She continued her work in politics and was on the board of the Innocence Project after her tenure as attorney general ended.
Reno died in 2016 at age 78, due to complications of Parkinson’s disease.
8. Paul Sinha
[Evening Standard]
Paul Sinha, British comedian and star of the game show “The Chase”, revealed in a blog post published in 2019 that he had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He explained that his symptoms began in 2017 with a “frozen right shoulder” and a limp on his right side. He now has a treatment plan in place and plans to continue performing. Sinha is 49 years old.
9. Billy Connolly
[IMDb]
Scottish comedian and actor Billy Connolly, who has appeared in movies like “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events,” “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” and “Brave,” was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013 at age 71. At the time, he was in treatment for prostate cancer.
“It takes a certain calm to deal with [Parkinson’s], and I sometimes don’t have it. I sometimes get angry with it, but that doesn’t last long, I just collapse in laughter,” he said.
10. Pope Francis
[The New York Times]
Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 in Argentina) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 until his death from Parkinson's in 2025. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American and the first pope born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III.
Throughout his papacy, Francis was noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, international visibility, commitment to inter-religious dialogue, and concern for the poor, migrants and refugees.
(Source: Wikipedia)
11. Helen Mirren
[Wikipedia]
Helen Mirren, the acclaimed British actress and Oscar Winner, has publicly revealed that she has Parkinson's disease and actively supports awareness and advocacy efforts through Parkinson's UK.
In an interview with The Guardian newspaper Mirren described Parkinson's as a "slow and inevitable process", emphasising the daily challenges it presents.
She is actively involved with Parkinson's UK, supporting campaigns to raise awareness about the disease, promote early recognition of symptoms and encourage equitable treatment for all sufferers.
12. Ozzy Osbourne
[Instagram]
Musician Osborne was diagnosed with PD a few years back. He performed a 5 July 2025, farewell reunion concert with the band he co-founded, Black Sabbath, weeks before his death. The event raised over $190 million, some of which went to Parkinson's disease research.
(Source: MightyTogether)
13. Adolf Hitler
[Wikipedia]
The German Fuehrer is believed to have had PD, and the condition may have partially influenced his decision-making.
Personal
Heather, my half-sister, suffered from Parkinson's for years and eventually became bed-ridden. She was cared for by her loyal husband Eric and son Cerith. Heather died aged 83. I attended her funeral, which was very moving, yet positive, followed by a splendid wake to celebrate her life.
Paul is a near neighbour and friend. He has been suffering from Parkinson's for a few years, but continues to live life to the full. He still drives and travels extensively with his wife.
Epilogue
A brief summary in Spanish for those who can or those who want to .....
Día Mundial del Párkinson
Este día se celebra cada 11 de abril, fecha elegida en honor al nacimiento de James Parkinson, el médico londinense que en 1817 describió por primera vez la enfermedad que lleva su nombre. La primera celebración se llevó a cabo en 1997 y estuvo centrada en la promoción de la Carta de Derechos de las Personas con Párkinson. Desde entonces, se ha convertido en una fecha emblemática para organizaciones de todo el mundo, que desarrollan una variedad de actividades, tales como campañas de concienciación en línea, conferencias, eventos de bienestar y recaudaciones de fondos.
[ANAFARMEX]
© Paul Whitelock
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