Céline Dion Cancels Global Tour Due to Health Concerns
Céline Dion’s sister has shared an update regarding the singer’s health, as she persists in seeking treatment for stiff-person syndrome.
In an interview with Le Journal de Montréal, Claudette Dion disclosed that their other sister, Linda, has moved in with Céline to assist in her care.
The renowned vocalist, aged 55, publicly revealed her diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome (SPS) last December, noting that the condition hampers her ability to sing as she’s accustomed to.
As a consequence, she made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of her global tour, which was scheduled to encompass performances across Europe and the U.K. in the upcoming fall and spring.
The move came after she postponed her return to her Las Vegas residency in 2021, citing medical issues.
Claudette has revealed that Céline is struggling to find any medications that work for her.
The cause of this extremely rare disease is still unknown, according to the Yale Medicine website, “but researchers suspect that it may be the result of an autoimmune reaction where the body attacks nerve cells in the central nervous system that control muscle movement.” The Stiff Person Syndrome Research Foundation says, “the most common symptoms of SPS are muscle rigidity, stiffness and spasms in the muscles of the trunk including the back and limbs.”
These can be triggered by environmental stimuli, like loud noises, or emotional stress according to Yale Medicine.
“The muscle spasms can be so severe they cause the person to fall down. The muscles gradually relax after the stimulus is gone,” the Yale Medicine website states.
While there is no cure for SPS, when doctors treat patients with this condition, Yale Medicine says they focus on managing the symptoms with medications “such as sedatives, muscle relaxants, and steroids.”