Neil Diamond on Parkinson’s battle: ‘I can’t really fight this thing, so I had to accept it’

Neil Diamond is embracing a positive outlook amid his battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

The Brooklyn-born singer-songwriter only began to truly accept his 2018 diagnosis of the brain condition within “the last few weeks,” he told “CBS Sunday Morning.”

“I can’t really fight this thing, so I had to accept it, this Parkinson’s Disease,” Diamond, 82, said in an interview that aired Sunday.

“There’s no cure. There’s no getting away from it. You can’t just say, ‘OK, enough already. Let’s get back to life.’ It doesn’t work like that. But I’ve come to accept what limitations I have and still have great days.”

Known for hits such as “Sweet Caroline” and “Solitary Man,” Diamond said he was in denial during the first year or two after his diagnosis. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease that can cause symptoms including involuntary shaking and coordination issues, according to the National Institutes of Health.

“When the doctor told me what it was, I was just not ready to accept it,” Diamond told CBS. “I said, ‘Oh, OK. I’ll see you, you know, whenever you wanna see me. But I have work to do, so I’ll see you later.’”

Diamond, who attended New York University, is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. A Broadway musical about his life, “A Beautiful Noise,” debuted in December, and Diamond gave an unannounced performance of “Sweet Caroline” on opening night.

He said he’s still in the process of accepting his diagnosis but recently felt a sense of calmness enter his life.

“I like it,” Diamond said. “I find that I like myself better. I’m easier on people, I’m easier on myself. And the beat goes on, and it will go on long after I’m gone.”

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