Alan Alda reveals sleep habit that led to Parkinson's diagnosis
Page Six • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Alan Alda revealed that before his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2015, he exhibited REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), a lesser-known symptom where individuals physically act out their dreams, such as throwing a pillow at his wife during a dream attack.
- Despite lacking common Parkinson’s symptoms like tremors or voice problems initially, Alda’s RBD was an early indicator of the neurodegenerative disease.
- Alda uses humor to cope with Parkinson’s challenges, joking about how the disease affects his hand movements while using a computer and sharing frustrations with his wife, Arlene, who assists him daily.
- The actor emphasized acceptance of his condition, stating he does not let Parkinson’s define him and views it as “just a hobby,” while continuously seeking new ways to manage symptoms.
- Alda has been married to Arlene for nearly 70 years, and he openly discusses the emotional impact of needing help with everyday tasks like buttoning his shirt.
