After the announcement of singer Jessie J, who said yesterday to be touched by breast cancer, another artist published sad news on June 4 to her fans. Morten Harket, singer of the A-HA group, famous for the tube Take have meis today suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Do not decline, his new priority before music
“”I have no problem accepting the diagnosis. Part of me wanted to reveal it. Recognizing the diagnosis did not pose a problem to me; it is my need for calm and tranquility to work that prevented me“revealed the 65 -year -old singer, who wanted to return his public situation.
The man thus joined his situation several months ago and has been working since to do his best to “prevent (his) organism from declining”. “”It is a difficult exercise, a balance between taking medication and the management of its side effects“, He admits. Top 2024, he also underwent two operations to implant, with success, electrodes in his brain, which made it possible to alleviate the impact of symptoms. A hope for this artist who, on the other hand, does not know if he will be able to sing again.
“”Problems with my voice are one of the many reasons for uncertainty about my creative future. You see me at the worst of my form right now.“”
In question: the effect of electrodes, which affects the voice region. “”These problems increase with dopamine. If I don’t take it, my voice is better, but the underlying symptoms become more pronounced. (…) The question is whether I can express myself with my voice. For the moment, it’s out of the question!“”
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition that affects 1 % of the over 65s, rarely before 45 years, and affects men as much as women. It results from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of the black substance of the brain. This loss leads to a dopamine deficit, a key neurotransmitter in the control of movements, causing tremors, stiffness and motor slowness.
The exact cause remains unknown, however. Rare hereditary forms exist, often early. Genetic factors are suspected in young or family cases, with the possible involvement of a dozen genes, still misunderstood to date.
What are the symptoms?
Parkinson is an incurable chronic disease. The beginnings are often discreet and well controlled by treatments, with a “honeymoon” of several years. The disease begins slowly, with fatigue, diffuse pain, writing disorders, tremors or stiffness. Gradually settle down the three typical motor signs: Akinesia (slowness), hypertonia (rigidity) and rests at rest. Other symptoms may occur: pain, digestive, urinary disorders, sleep, hypotension, sweats, excessive salivation, mental (depression, anxiety) and long -term cognitive disorders.
Parkinson’s disease treatments
There is no curative treatment of the disease. However, drugs compensate for the dopamine deficit and thus attenuate certain symptoms:
- Antiparkinsonian drugs that mimic the effects of dopamine;
- Drugs that inhibit enzymes degrading dopamine;
- Deep brain stimulation: reserved for people with a significant handicap linked to motor fluctuations or dyskinesias, and capable of supporting the intervention (under 70 years);
- The administration of Apomorphine by a subcutaneous pump or continuous L-DOPA by gastric probe;
- Physiotherapy to improve walking;
- Speech therapy rehabilitation to improve swallowing and speech disorders.
As a reminder, Parkinson’s disease concerns 272,500 patients in France, and 25,000 new cases are declared each year.