Early Parkinson’s symptoms misdiagnosed for years, Terry Crews’ wife reveals

Parkinson’s illness astir commonly affects older adults, pinch nan mean property of onset successful nan early to mid-60s. However, a smaller subset of patients create early-onset symptoms earlier property 50.

Former NFL linebacker Terry Crews' wife, Rebecca King Crews, 60, precocious announced that she’s been battling Parkinson's disease for complete a decade. She first began noticing symptoms successful 2012 and was diagnosed successful 2015.

During an quality connected Monday's section of "Today," King Crews sewage candid astir surviving pinch nan illness and shared really a recently approved process has helped negociate her symptoms.

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King Crews elaborate really she had "some flimsy numbness" successful her near nutrient astatine first. Her trainer besides noticed a deficiency of plaything successful her limb erstwhile she walked.

"Then I woke up 1 greeting and my manus was shaking," she recalled. "I said, 'Now that's a tremor,' because my grandma had tremors. So I went to nan doctor, and he told me, 'Oh, you're having anxiety, you'll beryllium fine.'"

Terry Crews' wife, Rebecca King Crews, first noticed symptoms of Parkinson's illness successful 2012. She was officially diagnosed successful 2015. (Getty Images)

King Crews, who is besides a bosom crab survivor, said she visited multiple doctors earlier receiving her Parkinson’s diagnosis.

Prevalence of early Parkinson's

It is not communal to spot Parkinson’s illness successful group nether 50 years old, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, pinch only 2% of group diagnosed earlier than property 40.

The Parkinson’s Foundation has reported that astir 4% of each cases statesman earlier property 50, pinch nan incidence of illness expanding pinch age.

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An estimated 1.1 cardinal Americans are living pinch Parkinson's, and that number is expected to emergence to 1.2 cardinal by 2030.

Symptoms thin to create slow complete time, usually including tremors, musculus stiffness, slow activity and equilibrium problems, according to Dr. Zachary Jordan, a neurologist astatine The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Patients pinch young-onset Parkinson’s illness (YOPD) are much apt to acquisition involuntary musculus contractions called dystonia, which occurs successful different parts of nan body. (iStock)

Patients pinch young-onset Parkinson’s illness (YOPD) are much apt to acquisition involuntary musculus contractions called dystonia, which occurs successful different parts of nan body, Jordan told Fox News Digital.

People pinch YOPD besides study much involuntary assemblage movements, but little predominant dementia-related symptoms. These patients thin to acquisition a slower progression complete time, usually staying functional and "cognitively intact" for overmuch longer.

Dr. Joel Salinas, a Harvard-trained behavioral neurologist and main aesculapian serviceman astatine Isaac Health, shared that Parkinson's "often announces itself subtly."

TERRY CREWS' WIFE REVEALS SHE BATTLED PARKINSON'S IN SECRET FOR YEARS BEFORE FINDING HOPE IN NEW TREATMENT

"Many group don't recognize really galore non-motor symptoms tin look early, sometimes moreover earlier nan activity issues: changes successful handwriting (getting smaller and much cramped), reduced consciousness of smell, sleep disturbances, constipation, and a soft aliases monotone voice," he said successful an question and reply pinch Fox News Digital.

Since early signs are truthful varied, Parkinson's is often misdiagnosed successful its first stages, Salinas said, conscionable arsenic King Crews' early symptoms were dismissed.

When it comes to uncovering a cure for Parkinson's, Rebecca King Crews remains hopeful for nan future. (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet and Chandon)

The origin of Parkinson's is unknown, though YOPD cases are "slightly much likely" to beryllium genetic, Johns Hopkins reports.

Growing investigation has linked early-onset Parkinson's to environmental exposures, specified arsenic pesticides and definite chemicals, arsenic good arsenic caput trauma, according to Salinas.

Taking action

Although location is nary proven prevention for Parkinson's, Salinas pointed to "strong evidence" that regular exercise whitethorn thief slow illness progression.

There are immoderate medications and therapies for Parkinson's, including nan caller FDA-approved curen King Crews has undergone, called bilateral-focused ultrasound.

Men are diagnosed pinch Parkinson's astatine astir 1.5 times nan complaint of women overall, but women pinch early-onset illness are sometimes underdiagnosed because their symptoms get attributed to different causes, for illustration worry aliases hormonal changes, an master said. (iStock)

The curen uses a instrumentality called Exablate Neuro to "deliver ultrasound waves to targeted areas connected some sides of nan encephalon progressive successful Parkinson's activity symptoms, each guided by MRI," Salinas shared.

The FDA approved nan therapy successful July 2025 to dainty some broadside of nan brain, six months apart. Salinas called it a "meaningful advance for nan correct patients."

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"It is non-invasive (no incisions, nary consequence of surgical bleeding), which makes it an appealing action compared to heavy encephalon stimulation for patients who qualify," he said.

While focused ultrasound is not a cure, it represents a "category of intervention," according to Salinas.

While focused ultrasound is not a cure, it represents a "category of intervention," according to an expert. (iStock)

The procedure, which is presently indicated for patients pinch precocious Parkinson’s centrifugal symptoms, is costly – and is not consistently covered by insurance.

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"I would promote patients to inquire their movement upset specialist if they are a campaigner and to advocator for security coverage, because this exertion deserves to beryllium broadly available," Salinas advised.

"Don't suffer successful soundlessness – get to a master and enactment engaged pinch what's coming, because nan scenery is changing fast."

Given nan ongoing investigation into neuroprotective therapies for Parkinson's, "there is existent logic for optimism," said Salinas.

"Don't suffer successful soundlessness – get to a master and enactment engaged pinch what's coming, because nan scenery is changing fast."

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Fox News Digital’s Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.