What to know about Parkinson's disease after Ozzy Osbourne's death
[July 24, 2025]
Heavy metal rocker Ozzy Osbourne died this week at 76, just weeks after
his farewell show and about five years after announcing he had
Parkinson's disease.
Here's what to know about the disease:
What is Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s is a neurologic disease that robs people of control over
their movements. It typically starts with tremors and is characterized
by slow movement, a shuffling gait, stiff limbs, balance problems and
slurred speech.
Who gets it?
About 1 million Americans are living with Parkinson’s, and 10 million
people worldwide, the Parkinson’s Foundation. estimates. It usually
appears after age 60, although sometimes it can develop before age 50.
What causes Parkinson's?
The exact cause isn’t known, but Parkinson’s develops when cells that
produce one of the brain’s chemical messengers, called dopamine, begin
to deteriorate and die.
Dopamine transports signals to parts of the brain that control movement.
Parkinson’s symptoms appear after enough dopamine-producing cells die
that there’s too little of this neurotransmitter in the brain.
According to the foundation, most experts believe genetic and
environmental factors are behind the disease. Dozens of gene mutations
linked to Parkinson's have been discovered and genetics account for 10%
to 15% of all cases. Other factors suspected of increasing the risk
include head injuries, exposure to pesticides and herbicides and where
you live.
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Flowers and messages are left by fans to commemorate the death of
Ozzy Osbourne at the Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham, Wednesday,
July 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
 Is there a cure?
There is no cure but there are treatments, including medications
that affect dopamine levels and a surgically implanted
tremor-blocking device. Patients also can benefit from physical and
occupational therapy.
What’s the prognosis?
Symptoms worsen over time, usually slowly. The severity of symptoms
and how quickly they progress varies widely between patients. In
advanced cases, people may be unable to walk or care for themselves.
They also can suffer from depression as well as memory and thinking
problems.
While Parkinson’s itself isn’t considered fatal, people can die from
complications of the disease, including lung problems as muscle
weakness impedes the ability to cough and to swallow.
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