Culture A-ha’s Morten Harket reveals he has Parkinson’s disease

A-ha’s Morten Harket reveals he has Parkinson’s disease

-

- Advertisment -
ADVERTISEMENT

Morten Harket, frontman of celebrated Norwegian synth-pop band A-Ha, has revealed that he has Parkinson’s disease.

The news was shared by the band in a statement on their website which read: “This isn’t the sort of news anyone wants to deliver to the world, but here it is – Morten has Parkinson’s disease.”

The pop icon, aged 65, shared further details of the diagnosis in the post, and explained why he has sharing the news after previously keeping details on his health “strictly private”.

“I’ve got no problem accepting the diagnosis. With time I’ve taken to heart my 94-year-old father’s attitude to the way the organism gradually surrenders: ‘I use whatever works’,” he wrote.

“Part of me wanted to reveal it. Like I said, acknowledging the diagnosis wasn’t a problem for me; it’s my need for peace and quiet to work that has been stopping me. I’m trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline.”

Harket said he underwent neurological procedures to have electrodes implanted inside his brain last year and that this had reduced the symptoms.

He continued: “It’s a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects. There’s so much to weigh up when you’re emulating the masterful way the body handles every complex movement, or social matters and invitations, or day-to-day life in general.”

Regarding whether Harket can still perform and sing, he wrote: “I don’t really know. I don’t feel like singing, and for me that’s a sign. I’m broadminded in terms of what I think works; I don’t expect to be able to achieve full technical control. The question is whether I can express myself with my voice. As things stand now, that’s out of the question. But I don’t know whether I’ll be able to manage it at some point in the future.”

Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world, behind Alzheimer’s. It causes deterioration in the brain’s nervous system, leading to tremors and other symptoms that can become progressively worse over time. Common symptoms include involuntary shaking, slower-than-usual movement, and stiffness in the muscles.

The disease can be treated with surgery and medication, but there is no cure. It is not known what exactly leads to people developing the condition.

Other famous faces who have had Parkinson’s diagnoses include Back To The Future actor Michael J. Fox, heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne and Scottish comedian Billy Connolly.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest news

James Bond in danger: Why is 007 under threat from a property tycoon?

ADVERTISEMENTHe’s gone up against nefarious and shadowy organisations, as well as cat-stroking megalomaniacs with plans for world domination. However, the world’s most famous secret agent may have met his match with an Austrian property developer by the name of Josef Kleindienst.Indeed, the founder of the Kleindienst Group is challenging trademark registrations relating to the James

Winning design selected for UK memorial to Queen Elizabeth II

ADVERTISEMENTThe winning design for the national memorial for Queen Elizabeth II has been announced and will feature commemorative gardens, a translucent glass bridge and a statue of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. British studio Foster + Partners has been selected to honour Britain's longest-reigning monarch through their ambitious design, to be built in St James's Park in

Brad Pitt premieres F1 film in London with appearance from Tom Cruise

ADVERTISEMENTBrad Pitt and Tom Cruise delighted fans at the European premiere of F1: The Movie in London, sharing a hug and posing together in front of a sleek sports car. The reunion marks a rare public moment between the two screen legends, who last worked together in 1994's Interview with the Vampire.Pitt rocked the red

Thousands protest against Ye’s headline slot at Slovak festival

ADVERTISEMENTA growing backlash is mounting in Bratislava after the announcement that controversial rapper Kanye West - now legally known as Ye - is set to headline the Slovakian capital's upcoming Rubicon festival. A petition urging the mayor to cancel his appearance describes the booking as “an insult to historic memory, a glorification of wartime violence
- Advertisement -

Botched selfie: Tourist damages priceless painting at Florence gallery

ADVERTISEMENTA tourist attempting to capture a picture of himself in front of an 18th-century portrait at the Uffizi Galleries in Florence tripped and left a hole in the artwork.  The man taking a selfie stumbled on the platform intended to keep visitors at a distance from the portrait of Ferdinando de’ Medici, "Grand Duke of Tuscany"

All you need to know about the Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sánchez wedding

ADVERTISEMENTThe high-profile wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former TV journalist Lauren Sánchez takes place in Venice this week.Since their engagement in May 2023, the couple, 61 and 55 respectively, have dominated headlines and there has been plenty of speculation about the date, location and the guest list for their extravagant nuptials.Already compared to

Must read

James Bond in danger: Why is 007 under threat from a property tycoon?

ADVERTISEMENTHe’s gone up against nefarious and shadowy organisations, as well as cat-stroking megalomaniacs with plans for world domination. However, the world’s most famous secret agent may have met his match with an Austrian property developer by the name of Josef Kleindienst.Indeed, the founder of the Kleindienst Group is challenging trademark registrations relating to the James

Winning design selected for UK memorial to Queen Elizabeth II

ADVERTISEMENTThe winning design for the national memorial for Queen Elizabeth II has been announced and will feature commemorative gardens, a translucent glass bridge and a statue of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. British studio Foster + Partners has been selected to honour Britain's longest-reigning monarch through their ambitious design, to be built in St James's Park in
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you