What to know about Ozzy Osbourne’s rare form of Parkinson’s disease
Ozzy Osbourne’s rare form of Parkinson’s, explained
- Heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne died at 76, having been diagnosed with a rare genetic form of Parkinson's disease over two decades ago.
- While the exact cause of his death was not explicitly stated, he had been living with the condition since 2003 and recently spoke about his inability to walk.
- Osbourne was affected by a mutation in the PARK 2 gene, a rare recessive form that is the most common cause of early-onset Parkinson's disease.
- Parkinson's is a degenerative neurological disorder that impacts over 1.1 million Americans and is characterised by slow movements, tremors, and balance problems due to the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells.
- Although Parkinson's itself is not considered fatal, complications such as aspiration pneumonia, caused by muscle weakness affecting swallowing and coughing, account for a significant percentage of deaths among patients.