For the last 10 years, singer, designer and wife to actor Terry Crews, Rebecca King-Crews, has privately navigated the grueling realities of Parkinson’s disease. She finally brought her secret battle to light this week, offering hope and advocating for cutting-edge medical advancements. Rebecca’s decade-long journey began with numbness in 2012 and was followed by a formal diagnosis in 2015, as reported by Today. Thanks to a recent life-changing “focused ultrasound” procedure that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2025, the 60-year-old has noticed improvement in her Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

While this news is worth celebrating, the Morehouse School of Medicine reminds us that Black Americans are less likely to receive an early diagnosis. They also face steeper barriers to specialized care. Below, we break down the essentials of Parkinson’s disease, the subtle motor and non-motor symptoms that often go unnoticed and how to advocate for yourself in an environment where medical gaslighting remains a systemic hurdle.

What’s happening in your body

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects the body’s motor system. It occurs when nerve cells in a specific part of the brain (the substantia nigra) become impaired or die. These cells produce dopamine, the chemical messenger that enables smooth, coordinated muscle movement.

While every individual’s journey is unique, Columbia University Irving Medical Center notes that the most common signs include:

Tremors: Often starting in a single hand or finger while at rest.
Bradykinesia (slowed movement): Simple tasks like walking or getting out of a chair become labored and time-consuming.
Rigidity: Muscle stiffness that can occur in any part of the body, often limiting range of motion.
Postural instability: A tendency to lose balance or a change in gait (often described as a “shuffling” walk).
Non-motor symptoms: These can include depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances and a diminished sense of smell.

Common causes of Parkinson’s disease

While medical science has yet to pinpoint a single “smoking gun,” Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that the consensus among neurologists is that Parkinson’s disease arises from a complex, often decades-long dance between our DNA and the environments we move through.

For years, genetic research focused almost exclusively on European populations. However, a groundbreaking 2023 study (and subsequent 2026 follow-ups) identified a specific GBA1 variant unique to people of African descent. This variant significantly increases the risk of Parkinson’s by affecting how brain cells clear out cellular “trash.” When this process fails, a protein called alpha-synuclein clumps together, leading to the death of dopamine-producing neurons.

If genetics “load the gun,” environmental factors are often what “pull the trigger.” Exposure to certain toxins, such as pesticides, industrial solvents and air pollution, has been linked to a higher incidence of the disease, per Royal Care Neurosciences.

Beyond chemicals, physical history plays a part. Sustained head trauma – whether from contact sports or accidents – can trigger a cascade of inflammation that manifests as Parkinson’s later in life. Additionally, age remains the single largest risk factor, as the brain’s natural repair mechanisms slow down over time.

Diagnosis and treatment

Because there is no single blood test for Parkinson’s, doctors rely on a clinical assessment of motor symptoms like tremors and gait. For many in the Black community, this process is delayed by years; as Rebecca King-Crews shared, her early symptoms were initially dismissed as “just anxiety.”

While Levodopa remains the gold standard for managing dopamine levels, the “new frontier” Rebecca highlighted is focused ultrasound (MRgFUS). This FDA-cleared, incisionless procedure uses mapped ultrasound waves to thermally ablate the specific brain tissue causing tremors. The results are often immediate, as seen in Rebecca’s newfound ability to write her own name again.

For those managing motor fluctuations, 2026 has also brought:

Subcutaneous infusions: New, less-invasive pumps that deliver continuous medication under the skin, replacing the need for bulky intestinal tubes, as explained by the NIH.
Neuro-physical therapy: Specialized “Big and Loud” therapy programs that help patients retrain their brains to maintain range of motion and vocal clarity.
Culturally competent care: A rise in support networks, like those partnered with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, that provide faith-based and community-specific resources to fight the isolation often associated with the disease.

Why do Rebecca King-Crews’ hands shake?

In 2012, Rebecca noticed her hand trembling while applying lip gloss. “I said, ‘Now that’s a tremor,’ because my grandmother had tremors,” she shared when breaking the news this week.

While doctors initially dismissed her tremors as a byproduct of “anxiety,” the biological reality was much more complex. The shaking in Rebecca’s hands is a hallmark motor symptom of Parkinson’s, caused by the progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain’s substantia nigra. Without enough dopamine to act as a chemical messenger, the brain’s “control center” for movement begins to misfire, resulting in the resting tremors and coordination issues that Rebecca managed in private for years.

What procedure did Rebecca King-Crews have?

The treatment that changed everything for Rebecca King-Crews is a cutting-edge, FDA-approved procedure known as MR-guided focused ultrasound. After a decade of navigating the progressive limitations of Parkinson’s, Rebecca traveled to Stanford University in early 2026 to undergo this revolutionary, incisionless “surgery.”

Unlike traditional deep brain stimulation, which requires opening the skull to implant electrodes, according to Applied Radiology. The focused ultrasound uses high-intensity sound waves to target and thermally ablate the specific brain tissue responsible for tremors – all while the patient is awake and tucked inside an MRI scanner.

Following the treatment on the right side of her brain, Rebecca regained the ability to write her name and use her right hand for the first time in three years. In her emotional April 2026 appearance on Today, she described the technology as the “new frontier of medicine.”

While the procedure has been a game-changer for her motor symptoms, Rebecca is quick to point out that it is currently an expensive, out-of-pocket option for many, as it isn’t yet widely covered by insurance. By sharing her success (and her plans to treat the left side of her body in September 2026), she is advocating for greater accessibility.

When to see a doctor about Parkinson’s disease

Recognizing the early signs of Parkinson’s disease is less about looking for a dramatic tremor and more about noticing the quiet, persistent changes in how your body moves and feels. Because these symptoms are often subtle, knowing when to stop “powering through” and start demanding answers is the first step in protecting your long-term mobility.

You should schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional if you or a loved one notices a combination of: micrographia, loss of smell, resting tremors, masked face and sleep disturbances.

If you bring these concerns to a primary care physician and they dismiss them as “general aging,” don’t be afraid to push for a referral. As we saw in Rebecca’s case, a general practitioner may lack the specialized training to spot early-stage Parkinson’s. Request a consultation with a Movement Disorder Specialist – a neurologist with specific expertise in Parkinson’s.

Bottom line

Rebecca King-Crews’ decade-long journey from a silent struggle to a public breakthrough is a powerful call to action for the Black community. Her story proves that while Parkinson’s is a life-altering diagnosis, it is no longer a life-limiting one. By learning the early red flags, understanding our unique genetic risks and refusing to settle for medical gaslighting, we can ensure that Black patients move from the margins of neurological care to the very center of the cure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What worsens Parkinson’s disease?

Chronic stress and lack of sleep are major culprits, as they can cause motor symptoms like tremors and stiffness to flare up significantly.

How long can people live with Parkinson’s?

“Many people do not realize that neurological conditions impact communication and daily function,” says Dr. Diana Rangaves, PharmD, RPH. “From speech and language difficulties to memory, coordination and emotional regulation challenges, neurological conditions reshape daily routines and social interactions. These effects often influence independence, relationships and emotional well-being. Understanding their impact is essential for early recognition, effective support and improved quality of life for affected individuals and families. Life expectancy varies and can be normal to near normal. Supporting a quality of life is essential.”

Citations

Today.com. Terry Crews’ wife Rebecca opens up about her secret Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Today. Published April 6, 2026. https://www.today.com/health/celebrity-health/terry-crews-wife-rebecca-parkinsons-disease-rcna266559

Johnson SR. Looked Over, Left Behind: Black Americans Face Gaps in Parkinson’s Care. Morehouse School of Medicine. Published May 2023. https://www.msm.edu/RSSFeedArticles/2023/May/ChantaleBranson.php

Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Revealing the Face and Voice of Parkinson’s Disease. CUIMC News. Published July 12, 2023. https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/revealing-face-and-voice-parkinsons-disease

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Can Environmental Toxins Cause Parkinson’s Disease?. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Published 2021. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/parkinsons-disease/can-environmental-toxins-cause-parkinson-disease

Parkinson’s UK. New risk factor for Parkinson’s identified among people of African descent. Parkinson’s UK. Published August 31, 2023. https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/news/2023/new-risk-factor-for-parkinsons-identified-among-people-african-descent

Royal Care Neurosciences. What Causes Parkinson’s Disease? Genetic vs Environmental Factors. Royal Care Neurosciences. Published April 3, 2026. https://royalcareneurosciences.com/what-causes-parkinsons-disease-genetic-vs-environmental-factors/

Monje MHG, Karl JA, Cooper CS, et al. Advanced Therapeutics in Parkinson’s Disease: What’s New?. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports. Published April 3, 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12916957/

Applied Radiology. Celebrity Case Highlights Expanding Role of MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound in Parkinson’s Disease Management. Applied Radiology. Published April 7, 2026. https://appliedradiology.com/articles/celebrity-case-highlights-expanding-role-of-mr-guided-focused-ultrasound-in-parkinson-s-disease-management