Ozzy Osbourne’s death this week at the age of 76 has ignited curiosity about his Parkinson’s disease and how it contributed to his death.
Parkinson’s, which affects memory, thinking and movement, is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world.
Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2003, but waited until 2020 to publicly disclose the news.
He was open about his health struggles in recent years.
“It’s been five years of absolute hell for me and the family,” the “Prince of Darkness” said on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” in September 2023.
Around 90,000 new cases of Parkinson’s are diagnosed in the US each year. The disease tends to strike people over the age of 60.
Osbourne and the actor Michael J. Fox, 64, are among the most prominent patients.
While the exact cause of Parkinson’s remains unknown, some experts propose it might originate in the gut before affecting the brain.
The disorder commonly affects mobility, causing shaking and stiffness as well as hindering balance and coordination.
There is no known cure for Parkinson’s, and while the disease itself isn’t fatal, it is progressive and can cause life-threatening complications.
“You wake up the next morning and find that something else has gone wrong,” Osbourne told The Guardian. “You begin to think this is never going to end.”
Here are some of the things that can go wrong with Parkinson’s and lead to death.
Pneumonia
According to an NIH study, aspiration pneumonia accounts for 70% of deaths among Parkinson’s patients.
The infection occurs when bacteria from the mouth are pulled into the lungs during aspiration, i.e., when a person swallows the wrong way and something enters their airway or lungs.
Parkinson’s patients are more likely to aspirate since dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a common symptom of the disease.
It is estimated that around 80% of patients suffer from this kind of issue in the early stages of the disease. The incidence increases to 95% in later stages.
The risk of aspiration pneumonia can be mitigated by preventing swallowing issues and reducing mouth bacteria with vigilant oral hygiene.
Malnutrition
A study in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease found that roughly 30% of patients with mild to moderate Parkinson’s are at risk for malnutrition.
Malnutrition weakens the immune system, making individuals with Parkinson’s more susceptible to infections. In addition, malnutrition can amplify other Parkinson’s symptoms like fatigue, cognitive decline and mood disturbance.
Blood clots
Blood clots, or venous thrombosis, rank among the leading causes of sudden death in Parkinson’s patients.
Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein due to slow or blocked blood flow. It’s often caused by sitting in the same position for a long time.
An estimated 1 million Americans develop DVT annually, and up to 100,000 will die from it.
The incidence of DVT is notably higher in Parkinson’s patients than in the general population.
Most Parkinson’s patients suffer from bradykinesia, hindered mobility, as well as swelling and pain in their lower extremities.
In early Parkinson’s patients, bradykinesia can cause abnormal muscle contractions and limit the pumping function in the leg muscles, leading to impaired blood flow and an increased likelihood of blood clots.
Advanced Parkinson’s patients face an even higher risk of blood clots due to postural imbalance and being bedridden.
“I also get blood pressure issues, from blood clots on my legs. I’m used to doing two hours on stage, jumping and running around,” Osbourne told The Guardian this year.
Sepsis
Relative to immobility, advanced-stage Parkinson’s patients are more likely to develop pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores.
According to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, these ulcers can become infected and, if left untreated, can lead to a life-threatening condition known as sepsis.
Falls
Due to the balance and mobility issues caused by Parkinson’s, patients are at a higher risk of falling, which can result in head injuries, broken bones or even death.
Death rates from unintentional falls rose more than 70% from 2003 to 2023 for people 65 to 74, according to data.
The rate increased by over 75% for adults 75 to 84 and more than doubled for seniors 85 and older.
Dementia
Parkinson’s dementia is a decline in cognitive function that occurs after a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
It develops at least one year — but usually longer — after the diagnosis.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s dementia include a decrease in memory, trouble focusing, challenges with language, mood changes, muffled speech, apathy and psychosis.
The longer a patient lives with Parkinson’s, the more likely they are to develop the related dementia.
Osbourne’s official cause of death has yet to be publicly announced.
On July 5, he played his final show with Black Sabbath in his hometown of Birmingham, England.
The event raised $190 million for several UK charities, including Cure Parkinson’s.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
