Terry Crews’ Wife Reveals Misdiagnosed Early Parkinson’s Symptoms for Years
Rebecca King Crews, wife of actor Terry Crews, says doctors misattributed her early Parkinson’s symptoms for years. She first noticed problems in 2012. A formal diagnosis followed in 2015.
Early signs and diagnosis
King Crews reported numbness in her left foot and reduced arm swing while walking. She later woke to a shaking hand that she recognized as a tremor.
Her initial concerns were dismissed as anxiety by a physician. She saw multiple doctors before receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis. King Crews is also a breast cancer survivor.
How common is early-onset Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s most often begins in the early to mid-60s. A smaller share develops symptoms before age 50.
- About 2% of cases are diagnosed before age 40, per Johns Hopkins Medicine.
- Roughly 4% begin before age 50, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
- An estimated 1.1 million Americans currently live with Parkinson’s.
- That number is projected to reach about 1.2 million by 2030.
Characteristics of young-onset Parkinson’s
Young-onset patients often face different symptoms than older patients. Dystonia and involuntary movements occur more frequently in this group.
They tend to experience slower motor decline. Dementia-related symptoms also appear less often early on.
Non-motor signs
Experts note many non-motor features can precede movement problems. These include smaller handwriting, reduced smell, sleep disturbances, constipation, and a soft voice.
Causes and risk factors
The root cause of Parkinson’s remains unknown. Young-onset cases are somewhat more likely to have genetic links.
Research has connected early Parkinson’s to environmental exposures. Pesticides, certain chemicals, and head trauma have been implicated.
Treatments and recent advances
There is no cure, but therapies can manage symptoms. Regular exercise shows evidence of slowing disease progression.
Rebecca King Crews has undergone a newly approved bilateral-focused ultrasound procedure. The therapy uses the Exablate Neuro device to deliver ultrasound waves. MRI guidance targets brain areas linked to movement symptoms.
The FDA approved bilateral-focused ultrasound in July 2025 to treat both sides of the brain, spaced six months apart. The approach is non-invasive. It avoids incisions and reduces bleeding risk compared with deep brain stimulation.
The treatment is aimed at patients with advanced motor symptoms. It is costly and not uniformly covered by insurers.
Advice for patients
Specialists urge patients to consult a movement disorder expert. Ask about candidacy for new interventions and seek insurance advocacy.
Clinicians stress staying informed as research advances. There remains cautious optimism about future neuroprotective therapies.
This report was prepared for Filmogaz.com using on-record comments and published medical guidance.
