Rebecca King Crews Discloses Parkinson's Diagnosis and Symptom Relief from New Procedure

Rebecca King Crews, the wife of former NFL linebacker Terry Crews, revealed on Monday's episode of the "Today" show that she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015. She first noticed symptoms in 2012, including slight numbness in her left foot and a lack of arm swing while walking.

Her trainer observed the arm movement issue, and later she experienced hand tremors, which she linked to her grandmother's similar symptoms.

King Crews visited multiple doctors before receiving her diagnosis. Initial medical evaluations attributed her symptoms to anxiety. She is also a breast cancer survivor. Parkinson's disease typically affects older adults, with the average age of onset in the early to mid-60s.

Early-onset cases, occurring before age 50, represent about 4% of all diagnoses, according to the Parkinson's Foundation. Only 2% of cases are diagnosed before age 40, per Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Early-Onset Parkinson's Characteristics An estimated 1.

2 million by 2030. Symptoms generally develop gradually and include tremors, muscle stiffness, slow movement, and balance issues. Dr. Zachary Jordan, a neurologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, stated that patients with young-onset Parkinson's disease often experience dystonia, or involuntary muscle contractions, and more involuntary body movements, but fewer dementia-related symptoms.

These patients typically see slower disease progression and remain functional and cognitively intact for longer periods. Dr. Joel Salinas, a behavioral neurologist and chief medical officer at Isaac Health, noted that Parkinson's often presents subtly at first.

Non-motor symptoms, such as changes in handwriting, reduced sense of smell, sleep disturbances, constipation, and a soft or monotone voice, can appear early, sometimes before movement problems. Early signs vary widely, leading to frequent misdiagnosis in initial stages.

The cause of Parkinson's remains unknown, though young-onset cases are slightly more likely to have a genetic component, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Research has associated early-onset Parkinson's with environmental factors like pesticide exposure, certain chemicals, and head trauma, as reported by Salinas.

Treatment and Management Options No proven method exists to prevent Parkinson's disease.

Salinas stated that regular exercise has strong evidence for slowing progression. Medications and therapies are available, including the bilateral-focused ultrasound procedure that King Crews underwent. " — Dr.

Joel Salinas (Fox News) The FDA approved this therapy in July 2025 for treating symptoms on both sides of the brain. King Crews reported that the procedure has eased her symptoms after years of managing the condition.