Israeli Journalist Neri Livna Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis After Years of Secrecy

Veteran Israeli journalist Neri Livna disclosed in a recent column that she has been living with Parkinson’s disease for some time. Writing in Haaretz on Wednesday, Livna shared her initial feelings of shame and fear of pity, explaining that while her close family and friends knew, she kept her condition private. She described how her health deteriorated before her son insisted she see a neurologist, leading to the diagnosis.

Livna emphasized that she quickly realized her previous stereotypes about Parkinson’s were inaccurate, noting she met younger women with the disease who lead active, full lives without visible tremors. However, she also recounted the challenges, including falls that resulted in injuries such as a shoulder fracture. She poignantly described Parkinson’s as "a very unhappy holiday, a holiday of falling."

With a long career in media, including radio and television hosting and a stint on the VIP season of "Big Brother," Livna has written a weekly column for years but had delayed revealing her illness publicly. She concluded her column by stating that after much contemplation, she decided it was time to "come out of the closet" and share her full truth with her readers.