Famous singer Maureen McGovern has revealed that she was recently diagnosed with “Posterior Cortical Atrophy with symptoms of Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia.”
The singer’s extraordinary career spans music, comedy and theatre. She also appeared in the evergreen comedy “Airplane,” in which she played a singing nun. He is best known for his hit song “Morning After,” which won Best Original Song at the Academy Awards and was featured in the hit movie “The Poseidon Adventure.”
The 72-year-old has now reached out to his fans in a bittersweet but hopeful message on his website revealing that he has Posterior Cortical Atrophy.
Read on for more details.
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Maureen McGovern Says Her ‘Inner Life’ Hasn’t Changed In Moving Message
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His announcement began with a series of montages depicting his achievements from his decade-long career flashed on screen. After reminiscing about the various achievements of his career, which have filled his “life with joy,” the “Plane” actor shared his diagnosis.
“I was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy with symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia,” he said. “What I do or can still achieve has changed. I can no longer travel or perform in live concerts. I can no longer drive. How’s that for a kick in the butt? Sure, it’s a challenge. But it will definitely don’t stop me from living my life.”
Although it took her a long time to accept her diagnosis, she shares that her passion for singing hasn’t changed.
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“At first, I started having trouble finding in my mind what I wanted to say,” he said. “I struggled with the inevitable shock, with fear — and frankly — despair. But slowly, I realized that my inner life had not changed. My passion for music and singing remained strong.”
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He Will Continue to Support Music Therapy
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In his announcement shared on his website and Facebook page, he said his diagnosis inspired the next step in his career, which is to become an advocate for music therapy.
“I will work to bring more attention and awareness to music therapy,” McGovern said. “We are all patients and caregivers at some point in our lives. I have experienced how music and art free our spirits and open our hearts to our common humanity.”
The singer continued, “For me, my music is a language that expresses what often cannot be said with just words. It enhances, expands, heals, brings joy and comfort, and removes barriers by creating meaningful experiences. So, receiving the stage this new part of my life, I’m starting to accept what I have and let it go.”
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McGovern expressed his hope that fans will join him on his next journey and signed off with, “May your life be filled with music.”
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Maureen McGovern’s achievements
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The star came into the limelight after he recorded the 1972 award-winning song, “The Morning After,” which was featured in the blockbuster movie “The Poseidon Adventure.”
McGovern is also the singer of the Oscar-nominated song, “Wherever Love Takes Me.”
Following his rise to fame, he recorded another song in 1975, “We May Never Love Like This Again,” which won an Oscar and was featured in “The Towering Inferno.” McGovern also wrote songs for “Superman” and the TV series “Angie.”
As an actress, the star has appeared in comedies such as “Airplane” and “Airplane II: The Sequel,” playing the nun Angelina. Additionally, he has appeared in over 60 television concerts, talk shows and TV specials.
McGovern appeared in Broadway plays such as “The Pirates of Penzance” and “Nine” in 1982, “3 Penny Opera” in 1989, and “Little Women The Musical” in 2005.
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What is Posterior Cortical Atrophy?
According to Mayo ClinicPosterior Cortical Atrophy, otherwise known as PCA, is “a degenerative brain and nervous system (neurological) syndrome that results in difficulty with vision and processing visual information.”
Common symptoms may include “difficulty reading, judging distances, reaching for objects, impairment in memory and thinking abilities, as well as problems with counting and recognizing familiar objects and faces.”
Other signs may include hallucinations, confusion, blurred vision, and changes in personality and behavior. Although it is usually caused by Alzheimer’s disease, it can be caused by other neurological conditions, such as corticobasal degeneration or Lewy body dementia.
There is also no genetic predisposition, and no risk factors play a role in the neurological condition.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
