Ozzy Osbourne’s Death Puts Spotlight on Form of Parkinson’s
Ozzy Osbourne, lead singer of Black Sabbath, has died at age 76. He had been previously diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s disease linked to the gene PRKN
Ozzy Osbourne at the press conference for Ozzy Osbourne Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt Unveiling to benefit the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Foundation at The Hard Rock Cafe in New York City on July 28, 2006.
George Taylor/Everett Collection/Alamy Stock Photo
On July 22 Ozzy Osbourne, lead singer of Black Sabbath, died at age 76. The “Prince of Darkness” had been outspoken about keeping up with stage performances and touring while undergoing care for a rare form of Parkinson’s disease called Parkin—named after the gene PRKN which is linked to the disease. He played his last live performance with his bandmates in Birmingham, England, on July 5.
“It’s been terribly challenging for us all,” Osbourne said in a 2020 Good Morning America interview in which he discussed his diagnosis.
“There’s so many different types of Parkinson’s,” said Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne’s wife, during the interview. “It’s not a death sentence by any stretch of the imagination, but it does affect certain nerves in your body.”
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Ozzy Osbourne’s cause of death was not disclosed. The late heavy metal musician had often openly shared his intense lifestyle and experience with drug use, which may have worsened the progression of his form of Parkinson’s, according to the New York Times.
What Do We Know about the Condition?
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition in which nerve cells, largely in the basal ganglia of the brain, deteriorate or die. According to the National Institutes of Aging, the illness typically progresses with age (most people develop the disease after age 60), and it is known for causing tremors, stiff muscles, balance issues, slowed movement and other mobility problems. People may also experience difficulty swallowing, chewing and speaking, as well as mental health issues, including depression and mood changes. Emerging research suggests that acting out dreams might also predict Parkinson’s disease.
PRKN, which is one of the genes implicated in Parkinson’s disease, is involved in maintaining mitochondrial function, which could affect cellular energy—but how that exactly leads to disease is unclear, according to MedlinePlus. Parkinson’s disease is linked to more than 200 mutations, some of which may cause issues with protein production, durability and function.
In the 2020 Good Morning America interview, the Osbourne family disclosed that he had Parkin. Osbourne had volunteered to have his genome sequenced in 2010 to see if his DNA could offer more clues about his health and condition. [Read more: Ozzy Osbourne’s Genome Reveals Some Neandertal Lineage]
“He was really curious to know about his Parkinson’s-like symptoms, so we looked pretty closely in his genome for that kind of stuff. We found a few hints, but we couldn’t tell him why he has symptoms like a tremor. And frankly, his history of drug abuse probably contributed to that, too,” said Nathan Pearson, then research director of Cofactor Genomics, which sequenced Osbourne’s genome, in an interview with Scientific American in 2010.
Does Parkinson’s Disease Cause Death?
Data on Parkinson’s disease and mortality are inconsistent. Some studies suggest that those with the condition, particularly an advanced or severe form, have a death rate that is about a 1.5 times higher than that of the general population, according to the American Parkinson Disease Association. Parkinson’s disease, in combination with another disease or injury, such as a fall, an ulcer or pneumonia, could also increase the likelihood of death.
While incurable, Parkinson’s is considered a livable disease. Drugs that act on certain brain neurotransmitters, including dopamine—a hormone involved in movement—can help alleviate symptoms. Research on deep-brain stimulation, which was approved for Parkinson’s tremor by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1997, has shown the technology to be a highly effective treatment.