Carly Simon Reveals Parkinson's Diagnosis at 83

Simon traced the onset of her difficulties to arthritis in one hip and both knees, which led to replacement surgery on all three joints. When her mobility kept deteriorating despite those operations, an extensive evaluation at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota produced the diagnosis. Parkinson's develops when brain cells that make dopamine, a chemical essential to movement, coordination and mood, gradually stop working or die. Typical early signs include tremor, stiffness, slowed movement and poor balance, while later stages may bring depression, anxiety, sleep problems and cognitive decline. According to the Parkinson's Foundation, the condition affects more than 10 million people worldwide, with roughly 90,000 Americans diagnosed every year. Simon also disclosed that she was treated during the same period for basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, on her face; the surgery altered her appearance and left her reluctant to be seen in public.

No cure exists, but medication, physical therapy and supportive care can manage symptoms, and Simon said she takes drugs for stiffness. She credited the recording of her new album, "Comes in Waves", due out on 14 August, with giving shape to her days: "It gave me somewhere to go without having to leave the room." Music, she added, "has rescued me more times than I can count." Thanking her doctors, family and friends, Simon acknowledged that she now moves more slowly and leans on others more than before, but concluded: "I am still very much here."