TV presenter Fiona Phillips has revealed she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at the age of 62.
The Daily Mirror columnist and former GMTV host said the disease had "ravaged" her family and she had long feared being given the diagnosis. She was diagnosed more than a year ago and is undergoing trials for a new drug that could slow the effects of the disease.
Fiona, who is an Alzheimer's Society ambassador, told the Mirror: "This disease has ravaged my family and now it has come for me. And all over the country there are people of all different ages whose lives are being affected by it - it's heartbreaking. I just hope I can help find a cure which might make things better for others in the future."
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She said that despite fearing she would one day be diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the news was still a "gut punching, shuddering shock". The presenter said she felt "more angry than anything else" due to the disease already having impacted her family life.
"My poor mum was crippled with it, then my dad, my grandparents, my uncle. It just keeps coming back for us," she said. Though she has kept the news private for 18 months, Phillips said she had decided to share her story to help end the stigma around Alzheimer's.
It can be tricky to catch Alzheimer’s early as many of the symptoms could be put down to factors such as menopause, depression or stress. But what are the signs that you, or someone you know, may in fact have Alzheimer’s? Some of the early symptoms are outlined below.
Memory loss
Memory loss is one of the early signs of Alzheimer’s and can include forgetting important dates, names, places or events. People may also ask the same questions repeatedly, forgetting they have just received an answer, or retell stories.
Poor judgement
Alzheimer's also affects people’s judgement and decision-making ability. This could manifest as bad financial decisions, poor hygiene or socially inappropriate actions. The disease can hinder people’s ability to plan, or follow directions which can lead to hasty decisions.
Misplacing things
This is one of the most frustrating symptoms for many people as they might often put items in strange places. Unable to retrace their steps in order to find it again, it can make things very tricky and this can result in outbursts as they grow confused and suspicious of others.
Changes in mood
People who have Alzheimer’s may have anxiety or mood changes, and become agitated or upset in both normal situations and when out of their comfort zone. This can also lead to withdrawal from social activities and hobbies.
Difficulty completing tasks
Daily tasks can become difficult for people who have the disease. It might be that they struggle to drive or travel to a particular location. They might get confused while writing a shopping list or following a recipe, or even forget to clean parts of the house and take out the bins.
Confusion with time/place
People with Alzheimer’s may struggle with particular dates, seasons, years, and the passing of time in general. They might forget where they are, what they are supposed to be doing and how they got there. It is also a tell-tale sign if people cannot understand why an activity or event is not happening immediately.
Problems with words
People may struggle to join in or follow along with a conversation. They might stop suddenly and have no idea how to continue talking or start asking questions or repeat themselves. This can also extend to vocabulary, with people calling items or other people the wrong name or using the wrong word - for example, calling a 'computer' a ‘typing machine’'.
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