Actor Alan Alda says he has Parkinson's disease.
Appearing Tuesday on "CBS This Morning," the former "M.A.S.H." star said he was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder three and a half years ago. Alda says he expects a tabloid will soon publish a story about his diagnosis.
The 82-year-old says he's not angry and considers it a challenge. Alda says he has acted and given talks since then. He says he could see his thumb twitch in a recent podcast and thought someone would soon do a sad story.
"I was mainly helping my family not be worried because it’s common for us all to go to the worst thought," Alda said on "CBS This Morning." "What’s interesting is this is a disease that's different for almost everybody who has it. There are some common symptoms but mostly everybody's different. Each day is different from the next. The main thing is there’s stuff you can do. It’s like a puzzle to be solved. What do I have to adapt to, to carry on a normal life? I enjoy solving puzzles."
Alda says revealing his diagnosis might be helpful to others with Parkinson's that there are things they can do.
Alda played a senator who ran for president on "The West Wing" and he also hosted "Scientific American Frontiers" on PBS.
