Diamond’s diagnosis may shed light on Parkinson’s

Beloved “Sweet Caroline” crooner Neil Diamond has canceled his upcoming tour dates after announcing he has Parkinson’s disease, but doctors say the diagnosis could shed light on the common condition and give other sufferers hope.

“Certainly having a very high-profile person with the disease, especially someone wellknown locally, raises awareness more,” said Dr. Bryan Ho, neurologist and director of the Movement Disorders Program at Tufts Medical Center.

Actor Michael J. Fox shared the news of his diagnosis in 1991 and his Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, launched in 2000, has raised more than $750 million in the quest for a cure.

Diamond — the artist behind the Boston Red Sox theme song — canceled his future performances just ahead of his 77th birthday.

Parkinson’s disease is the second-most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s.

The most common symptoms are slowness and tremors, but the disease can start subtly, and signs are often chalked up to agerelated changes.

“Usually by the time patients are diagnosed, they’ve had symptoms for a year or two,” Ho said. “It sort of creeps up.”

John L. Lehr, CEO of the Parkinson’s Foundation, said he expects to see an increase in calls to the nonprofit’s toll-free hotline — 800-473-4636.

Parkinson’s affects 1 million Americans and as many as 10 million people globally.

Lehr said people reading about Diamond’s diagnosis may recognize symptoms in themselves or someone they love and seek help, ideally from a neurologist who has extra training in treating the disease. Typical symptoms include shaking or tremor at rest, a lack of facial expression, anxiety and depression.

Diamond’s diagnosis, he said, may also help raise money aimed at finding a cure for the disease. “Only through research will we be able to understand the underlying mechanisms of the disease so we can target new therapies,” Lehr said.

In the meantime, he said, Diamond can serve as proof that, as challenging as Parkinson’s is, “you can still have a good quality of life.”