Carly Simon Reveals Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis: ‘I Have Not Stopped Living and I Have Not Stopped Working’ - Variety

What the report says

Variety reported that Carly Simon, the 83-year-old singer-songwriter widely associated with the 1972 hit “You’re So Vain,” disclosed Monday that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In a statement obtained by the publication, Simon said she had spent time understanding the diagnosis, adapting to it and deciding what to share publicly after fans asked about her reduced public presence.

According to Variety, Simon said her mobility problems persisted after knee and hip replacement surgeries, eventually leaving her unable at times to walk without substantial assistance. She said an evaluation at the Mayo Clinic led to the Parkinson’s diagnosis. Simon also described the condition as physically and emotionally variable, citing fatigue as well as anxiety, depression, exhaustion and apathy.

The article noted that Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder affecting nerve cells in the brain, with symptoms that can include tremors, stiffness, balance issues and slowed movement, and that it currently has no cure. Simon also revealed she had been treated for basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, and said surgery to remove it affected her appearance and made her more hesitant to be seen publicly.

Variety reported that Simon has not performed publicly since March 2018, but she stressed that illness has not ended her creative life. She has written a new album, “Comes in Waves,” described as her first full-length release since 2008, due Aug. 14. Simon said music has helped structure her days, while acknowledging she now moves more slowly and relies more on others.