Linda Ronstadt and Parkinson's disease

By Marc Castro

Aug 24, 2013 01:00 PM EDT

In an article posted on the online version of AARP Magazine, Linda Ronstadt admitted suffering from Parkinson's disease which lead her to lose her ability sing. The music legend, now at 67 years of age, said she was diagnosed with the disease just eight months ago and as a result, 'can't sing a note.'

Ronstadt recounted she began seeing the symptoms as early as eight years ago, but dismissed the loss of her talent to sing to a tick disease. When she began feeling her hands to be trembling, she attributed the shaking to a recent shoulder procedure she had undergone.

She finally sought the medical advice of a neurologist and was diagnosed with the same disease as Muhammad Ali suffers. She admitted she was 'completely shocked' and said, "I wouldn't have suspected that in a million, billion years."

In a press release from Parkinson's Action Network, the group estimates that the economic burden of the disease is worth USD14.4 billion. This is broken down to USD8,1 billion in medical expenses and indirect costs of about USD6.3 billion, The average cost of medical expenses for an individual suffering from Parkinson's disease is at USD22,800, much of it for nursing home expenses.

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