Morten Harket, A-ha frontman and 'Take On Me' singer, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease

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LiveNOW's Andy Mac spoke with Dr. Michael Okun, a neurologist from The Parkinson's Foundation about the disease, how it's diagnosed, treatment options and more amid reports that a Parkinson's expert visited the White House eight times in the last year.

A-ha’s frontman, Morten Harket, has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, A-ha’s biographer confirmed the news Wednesday on the band’s website. 

A-ha is a Norwegian synth-pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. The band rose to fame during the mid-1980s with hit songs including "Take on Me."

"Take on Me" singer Morton Harket has Parkinson’s disease

What they're saying:

"You know him as a-ha’s iconic frontman, a divinely gifted singer, reluctant pop star, solo artist, songwriter, eccentric thinker, father of five and a grandfather too, but in recent years Morten Harket has also been a man battling his own body," A-ha’s biographer Jan Omdahl said in a press release. "This isn’t the sort of news anyone wants to deliver to the world, but here it is: Morten has Parkinson’s disease." 

Morton Harket was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. (Credit: Stan Andersen)

According to Omdahl, a few people in the singer’s immediate circle are aware that he is ill, but the "unpredictable consequences of going public with the illness" have led him to hold off on making an announcement.

What they're saying:

"I’ve got no problem accepting the diagnosis," Harket shared. "With time I’ve taken to heart my 94-year-old father’s attitude to the way the organism gradually surrenders: ‘I use whatever works’".

He added: "Part of me wanted to reveal it. Like I said, acknowledging the diagnosis wasn’t a problem for me; it’s my need for peace and quiet to work that has been stopping me. I’m trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline. It’s a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects. There’s so much to weigh up when you’re emulating the masterful way the body handles every complex movement, or social matters and invitations, or day-to-day life in general."

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Dig deeper:

According to The Parkinson’s Foundation, Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately the dopamine-producing ("dopaminergic") neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra.

Symptoms generally develop slowly over years. The progression of symptoms is often a bit different from one person to another due to the diversity of the disease. People with PD may experience tremors, slowness and paucity of movement, limb stiffness and gait and balance problems. The cause remains largely unknown.

RELATED: NFL legend Brett Favre announces he has Parkinson's disease

In June 2024, Harket underwent a neurosurgical procedure in which electrodes were implanted deep inside the left side of his brain. These are connected to a small pacemaker-like device placed under the skin of the upper chest that sends electrical impulses through the electrodes into the brain. The method is called deep brain stimulation (DBS) and is among the most advanced treatments in neurology. 

What they're saying:

"The procedure had the desired effect: with the right electrical impulses now reaching Morten’s brain, many of his physical symptoms practically vanished. In December 2024 he underwent a similar procedure on the right side of his brain, which was also successful," Omdahl continued, adding, "Something is different, though, and I don’t mean the conspicuous absence of his iconic leather bracelets. It’s his voice, Morten’s unique instrument, that gives the game away. "The problems with my voice are one of many grounds for uncertainty about my creative future," he says."

Other celebrities have previously been diagnosed with the illness. In September, former NFL star Brett Favre announced he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. 

Actor Michael J. Fox is probably the most famous Parkinson’s patient. The star of the "Back to the Future" films has been open about living with the diagnosis he received in 1998; in 2000 he set up a foundation to promote research into the causes of and treatment for the disease. Fox took acting jobs for over 20 years after his diagnosis.