Veteran Israeli Journalist Neri Livneh Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis at 73

Neri Livneh, a prominent Israeli journalist aged 73, publicly disclosed her battle with Parkinson’s disease in a personal column published in Haaretz on Thursday. Livneh recounted how losing and then recovering her wallet, which contained a Parkinson’s association membership card, prompted her to reveal her condition to the public. She described the complex and lengthy diagnostic process, noting that she initially did not suspect Parkinson’s and attributed her symptoms to other health issues, including effects from heavy smoking and fears of stroke or emphysema.

Livneh detailed her gradual physical decline, including weakness, exhaustion despite long sleep, loss of her keen sense of smell, slower walking, stooped posture, and softer speech. Her son Amitai was the first to suspect Parkinson’s, while she herself was in denial for years, dismissing the possibility despite his concerns. She underwent numerous medical tests, including a cardiac catheterization, and even considered depression before receiving the diagnosis.

She also revealed that a well-publicized fall in Berlin, which led to the painful decision to give up her dog, was actually caused by a Parkinson’s symptom. Livneh, who has previously faced legal challenges over her reporting, expressed her commitment to truthfulness and said it was time to "come out of the closet" about her illness. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement and other functions. Several public figures, including actor Michael J. Fox and the late Israeli actor Yaakov Cohen, have also publicly shared their struggles with the disease.