Art Alexakis Frontman Opens Up About His Workouts, Diet, and Treatment to Manage Multiple Sclerosis
An estimated 2.8 million people worldwide are living with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to the National MS Society. March marks MS Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educating the public about this chronic disease, in which the immune system attacks the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms vary, but may include vision changes, numbness or tingling, trouble walking, and persistent fatigue. And unless you or someone close to you has experienced it firsthand, it may be difficult to understand how MS affects daily living.
We recently chatted with Everclear frontman Art Alexakis, 63, who has spent nearly a decade navigating life with MS. Diagnosed in April 2016, Alexakis has found ways to maintain both his music career and personal life by being mindful about his health. Quickly, he learned the importance of pacing himself, which often looks like napping before interviews and shows, avoiding inflammatory foods, and being honest with the people around him about his energy levels.
"Getting older makes everything a little harder. This makes it even harder," he says. "It's not like gaining 5 or 10 years, it's like gaining 10 or 15 years sometimes. And if I do my medication and workout, it helps a lot. But a lot of it's just learning how to manage it...I learn what I can do and what I can't do, and I set my boundaries to there. And I encourage anyone with any disease to do the same thing."
MS Treatment
When it comes to his MS treatment, Alexakis’s journey has involved some trial-and-error. Early on, he cycled through different treatments, searching for the right fit. Things shifted after a severe bout with COVID-19 in January 2021, which left him hospitalized for three and a half weeks and bedridden for another two with pneumonia. It led to new lesions on his brain and spine, intensifying his MS symptoms and leading him to reevaluate his care plan.
He consulted with a new neurologist and promptly started TYSABRI in 2021, which he's stuck with ever since, explaining it makes him feel more like himself. Administered monthly, he fits infusions in with his touring schedule.
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Managing MS With Exercise and Diet
Exercise plays an equally important role for Alexakis in managing his MS symptoms. Since overheating can worsen symptoms, he focuses on low-impact options like swimming, water weights, physical therapy exercises, yoga stretches, and various workouts with his wife. He rotates through these activities but maintains a daily routine of about an hour and a half, currently building up to more serious weightlifting.
"To be honest with you, I used to love to run. I can't run anymore because I'll trip and fall, because I have drop foot," he explains, which is a common symptom of MS. "I can swim as much as I want. I'm not going to really overheat because I'm in a pool, and it's low impact.
Diet and nutrition are just as crucial to what we jokingly coined as Alexakis’s "holistic" approach to living with MS. He largely avoids inflammatory foods, favoring meals that leave him feeling lighter and more energetic. At home, this includes a gluten-free diet, partly due to his wife’s celiac disease, which has inspired him to make mindful choices even on the road. Still, moderation is key, and he allows himself small indulgences.
c/o Art Alexakis
Sobriety
Alexakis emphasizes that his management strategy goes beyond physical health. He's been sober for over 36 years, and participation in the 12-step program plays a major role in his spiritual and mental well-being. Being of service to others, prioritizing family, and staying committed to his music all contribute to a greater sense of purpose.
“If I feel good spiritually and mentally, physically, it’s going to follow. It all comes together,” he says.
c/o Art Alexakis
Music Career
Everclear fans don't need me to give them a history lesson, but the band was formed in 1992 by Alexakis, and he's been on the move ever since. Nowadays, touring is especially demanding on his body, especially with a demanding schedule of flyaway gigs. But he believes the work is essential.
"The fact that I have to work that hard to do stuff is good for me. I don't enjoy it, but it's good for me because one thing I've learned from a person I met who had MS: you stop moving, you start to die," he says bluntly. "And that sounds brutal to say, but it's kind of true. You've got to keep moving."
He encourages others facing chronic illness to set boundaries, preserve self-care, and take care of their health in whatever way works best for them. As a results-driven kind of guy, Alexakis never backs away from a challenge. Accordingly, embracing the demands of his nomadic music career, workouts, and daily life has become his way of thriving despite the obstacles MS often presents.
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