A new book called Robin, by Dave Itzkoff, reveals new information about Robin Williams that many people didn't know until now. Williams had suffered from a degenerative brain disease called Lewy body for years prior to his death.
Williams and his family did not know his exact diagnosis, although he had mistakenly been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease on May 28, 2014, reported the New York Post. It was during his autopsy that it was revealed that Williams had "diffuse Lewy body dementia."
Williams had a prolific career in comedy and in film. He was known for his quick wit and incredible sense of humor, and starred in many timeless films such as Jumanji, Good Morning Vietnam, and Good Will Hunting. However, around 2014, his demeanor began to change. He started to lose his memory, and had many symptoms like insomnia and lost his sense of smell.
Also, he began to suspect people were stealing things from him, and suffered from panic attacks and was put on antipsychotic medication. Although for most of his life, words came to him naturally, it became harder for him to find his words. Sometimes, he would "find himself stuck in a frozen stance, unable to move."
Throughout all his symptoms, only a few people knew of his Parkinson's diagnosis.
