Tom Dumont, guitarist for the famed ska band No Doubt, revealed to fans Saturday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, weeks ahead of the band's Las Vegas residency.
Dumont said in a video on Instagram that he started to experience symptoms years ago, which prompted a visit to his doctor and a neurologist. A series of tests led to the early-onset Parkinson's diagnosis, he said.
"It’s been a struggle," he said. "It’s a struggle every day, and I’ll make another video with details about what Parkinson’s entails. The good news is I can still play music. I can still play guitar. I’ve been doing really well."
Dumont credited others for being so open about their own health for helping inspire him to talk about his diagnosis. It helps to reduce stigma and is important to increase awareness, he said.
No Doubt, led by singer Gwen Stefani, reunited in recent years and is set to perform at Las Vegas' Sphere venue from May 6 to June 13. Stefani is expected to be the first woman to headline the venue.
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that progresses over time and affects movement, according to the Parkinson's Foundation. Symptoms typical include tremors, rigidity and balance issues that can worsen as it progresses.
A number of public figures have been open about their diagnoses with Parkinson's disease, including actor Michael J. Fox, the "Back to the Future" star, who testified alongside boxer Muhammad Ali in 2002 to lobby for increased funding for medical research through the National Institutes of Health.
Both men urged Congress to invest in research into Parkinson’s causes and treatments, though Ali’s wife, Lonnie, spoke on his behalf. Ali was diagnosed in 1982, just a year after he put down his gloves and entered retirement.
Fox was at the height of his career in 1991 and filming "Doc Hollywood" when he began to experience symptoms. He revealed his diagnosis seven years later in an interview with People Magazine while his show "SpinCity" was on the air.
Fox has a foundation dedicated to awareness and research of and education about Parkinson's Disease as he continues to struggle with the disease's side effects. He has continued acting both on screen and through voice work and most recently guest starred on Apple's "Shrinking" with Harrison Ford and Jason Segel.