Singer Carly Simon has revealed that she has Parkinson's disease. 

The 83-year-old "You're So Vain" singer broke her silence about her absence from the spotlight in a statement obtained by People, in which she also revealed that she underwent surgery for basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Parkinson's is a nervous system disorder that affects movement, often causing tremors, stiffness, slowed movement, and balance problems.

Simon explained that her physical struggles began with arthritis, leading to three joint replacement surgeries on her knees and hip.

When her mobility continued to decline, leaving her unable to walk without considerable help or stand up from deep furniture, an evaluation at the Mayo Clinic confirmed the Parkinson's diagnosis.

"So many people have written to me, kindly wondering about my relative silence, asking how I am and what I have been doing," Simon shared in her statement. "The truth is, I've been learning how to live with Parkinson's disease."

Reflecting on the psychological impact of the illness, the Grammy winner said that the symptoms extend beyond physical limitations.

"Parkinson's is usually associated with movement, tremors, and balance, but it can affect much more than the body. It can bring anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and apathy," she wrote.

"The apathy is particularly strange. You can find yourself lying there like a starfish drying in the sun, arms pointing in all directions, while nothing inside is telling you to get up, read, watch, write, sing, call someone, or do much of anything at all," she continued. "That has been one of the hardest things to explain.

"It is not simply sadness or laziness. It is as though the part of the brain that sends out invitations to participate in life has temporarily misplaced the guest list."

The diagnosis coincided with surgery for facial skin cancer, which made the singer self-conscious and prompted her to step back from public life. 

However, Simon revealed she has continued to write and record, working on "Comes in Waves," her first original full-length album since 2008.

"Working on the music gave shape to days that did not always have much shape," Simon said. "It gave me somewhere to go without having to leave the room.

"It reminded me that illness can change your life without becoming the whole of your life."

Expressing gratitude to her family, caregivers, and medical team, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee reassured her fans about her future. 

"These days I move more slowly, I lean on others more than I once did, and I have learned to accept that every day will look a little different," Simon stated. "But I am still very much here."