Alan Alda’s first warning came while he was asleep. Before his Parkinson’s diagnosis, the beloved actor experienced something so unexpected that an ordinary pillow became part of a startling story involving his wife, Arlene. Now, his account reveals how a frightening dream pointed toward a deeper health mystery, instead of the tremors many people expect before a life-changing diag… Continues…
Alan Alda, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015, told CBS that acting out a dream alerted him to something unusual. Believing he was defending himself against an attacker, he dreamed of throwing a sack of potatoes. In reality, he threw a pillow at Arlene. Such behavior can occur with REM sleep behavior disorder, which allows people to physically act out dreams. The disorder can precede Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions, but it does not mean everyone affected will develop Parkinson’s. Repeated episodes warrant medical evaluation.
For the M*A*S*H and The West Wing star, humor remains an important way of handling daily frustrations. He described laughing when involuntary hand movements disrupt his computer work, then sharing the joke with Arlene. Their marriage, approaching 70 years, began with laughter across a dinner table. Parkinson’s has brought challenges, but their shared ability to find something funny remains a source of connection and comfort.