Former PA Gov Ed Rendell Announces Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis

PHILADELPHIA – Former Pennsylvania Governor and Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell announced Monday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

In a press conference Monday at Pennsylvania Hospital, the 74-year-old Democrat said he was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's Disease about three and a half years ago, according to Action News.

Rendell, who served as governor from 2003 to 2011 and as mayor from 1992 to 2000, said he began noticing his hands were unsteady and that he had trouble with his balance, NBC10 reports.

"I am sorry to learn that former Governor Ed Rendell is battling Parkinson’s disease," Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said Monday. "I am confident however that he will triumph against it with the great determination and resolve that he has demonstrated his entire life in public service. I commend him for using his voice to create much-needed awareness about the importance of early detection in treating this complex disease."

He has been receiving treatment from Penn Medicine's Dr. Matthew Stern and has been participating in a medicine and physical therapy program, the outlet reports.

According to the Allentown Morning Call, Rendell's mother lost a 13-year battle with Parkinson's disease.

"The reason that we are going public today is because I want to send a message to people from our area that if they have some of the same symptoms and are too afraid to go ahead and get diagnosed," he said at Monday's press conference "The key in this is to get in early."

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