Terry Crews’ wife Rebecca King-Cruise says early Parkinson’s symptoms were dismissed as anxiety: What were they?

(Nexstar) – Rebecca King-Cruise, the wife of actor Terry Crews, revealed during an interview on “Today” that she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease nearly a decade ago, although a doctor initially dismissed her symptoms as anxiety.

“It’s not unusual, for us women, to have to call everything stressful,” King-Cruise told “Today” host Craig Melvin on Monday.

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King-Cruise, 60, said she first noticed symptoms in 2012. It started with “numbness” in his left leg, and later his trainer pointed out that he couldn’t move one of his arms when he walked.

“Then I woke up one morning and my hands were shaking,” she recalled. “I said, ‘Now that’s a vibration.’

King-Cruz was right to be curious about these symptoms. The Parkinson’s Foundation and the Mayo Clinic list tremors and loss of involuntary hand movements — such as swinging your arm — as early warning signs.

Other early symptoms may include stiff legs, impaired posture, bradykinesia (slow movement), small handwriting, changes in speech and loss of smell.

“Any one of these symptoms doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry, but if you have more than one sign you should consider making an appointment to talk to your doctor,” writes the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Parkinson’s is caused by the loss of nerve cells in the brain, but the cause of this phenomenon in patients is not fully known. Researchers believe it may be due to genetics or external factors, including subsequent headaches or exposure to certain toxins or pesticides, says Johns Hopkins Medicine.

There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, but several medications are available to treat the condition. In some cases, surgery known as “deep brain stimulation,” or DBS, can help manage symptoms, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

On Monday’s edition of “Today,” King-Cruz indicated that she was taking medication, but also underwent a non-invasive “focused ultrasound” procedure that improved her symptoms and gave her back some use of her right arm.

“I’m able to write with my right hand for the first time in probably 3 years,” she said, and she was able to do ballet movements that she hadn’t been able to do before.

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King-Crews did not name the specific procedure she underwent, but “Today” identified it as a bilateral focused ultrasound using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology. Such procedures have been shown to “significantly” reduce tremors in patients with movement disorders, a 2024 study published in the journal JAMA Neurology found.

The Mayo Clinic classifies this procedure as an “advanced treatment” that uses ultrasound waves to burn the areas of the brain where seizures occur.

King-Crews believes the process is an example of a “new frontier” in Parkinson’s research and hopes to raise awareness for those struggling with the disease. But he admitted that “it is an expensive operation.”

While the surgery may be covered by some insurance policies, patients may want to verify that their insurer specifically covers the use of MRI-guided ultrasound treatments for Parkinson’s. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research said with FDA approval of bilateral focused ultrasound (bilateral FUS) for Parkinson’s patients in 2025, it may take time before insurers finalize their policies regarding the treatment. Potential patients may also find that the treatment is not yet widely available.

King-Crews said she is undergoing a second FUS procedure in September, and watches others make similar progress.

“I’m seeing miracles every day,” King-Crew said. “Little miracles every day.”

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