Share to ClassroomCarly Simon Says She Has Parkinson's Disease
The American singer Carly Simon has said that she has Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's is a brain illness that slowly gets worse. It mainly affects the way people move. Simon is 83 years old. She sent a written statement on Monday. In it, she explained why people had not heard from her for a long time. She said she needed time to understand her illness. Simon won a Grammy award in 1972, and her famous songs include You're So Vain.
Simon first had arthritis, or pain in the joints, in one hip and both knees. Doctors replaced all three joints, but she still found it harder and harder to walk. Then doctors at the Mayo Clinic examined her and found Parkinson's. The illness starts when brain cells stop making dopamine, a chemical that helps control movement. Common signs are shaking hands, stiff muscles and slow movement. More than 10 million people in the world have this illness.
There is no cure, but medicine and exercise can help. Simon takes medicine for stiff muscles. She also made a new album called Comes in Waves, and it comes out on 14 August. She said the music helped her a lot. She now moves slowly, but she wants people to know that she is still here.
