Ozzy Osbourne reveals Parkinson's diagnosis

Rock star Ozzy Osbourne has revealed that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's last year after a fall.

Responding to Ozzy Osbourne announcing that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Steve Ford, Chief Executive at Parkinson’s UK, said:

"Ozzy Osbourne bravely speaking about his Parkinson’s diagnosis and his journey to ‘owning it’ will do so much to raise awareness of this much misunderstood condition.

"With more than 40 symptoms, Parkinson’s is unpredictable and undoubtedly throws up new challenges, but with the right treatment and support we can help people to take control of their lives. 

"Ozzy is now part of a community of 145,000 people in the UK who live with Parkinson’s and urgently need a breakthrough treatment, which we are getting closer to every day.

"We would encourage people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s to speak to their GP or specialist to explore the best options for treatment and managing their Parkinson’s. 

"We wish Ozzy all the best."

Ozzy was diagnosed with Parkin 2, a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's.

David Dexter, Deputy Director of Research at Parkinson's UK, says:

"Genetic forms of Parkinson's account for approximately 8% of individuals receiving a Parkinson's diagnosis. The treatment options are similar for idiopathic (non-genetic) and genetic forms of Parkinson's."

Read more about genetic forms of Parkinson's

What is Parkinson's?

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition. This means that it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time.