Former GMTV host Fiona Phillips was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease aged 61. Her husband, This Morning boss Martin Frizell, has now opened up about his wife's heartbreaking condition.
She had been living with the degenerative brain disease in secret for almost a year before she decided to make the news public. The TV star revealed other members of her family suffer from the illness, but she believed she would have at least until her 80s before the condition progressed.
Speaking to the Mirror about the past few months Martin said: "My only frustration is just I want her to get better. I want her to remember things. I want the apathy to go and I want this person back who was vibrant and interested in things and eager to do new things...
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"But she's not there at the moment."
Fiona was visibly moved, but also a little confused by her husband’s response. "Really?" she said. "I hadn't noticed I was being like that." While Martin added: "But you wouldn't because you're in the middle of it."
Experts say 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 be suffering from Alzheimer’s?
According to the NHS, early warning signs include :
Forget about recent conversations, events or names of objects
Do you suddenly not remember key conversations with people, or have you forgotten about attending an event only a few days ago? This type of memory loss could be a sign you have Alzheimer's. Falling into this category is also forgetting the names of places and objects.
Misplace items
This is one of the most frustrating symptoms for many sufferers 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.
Show poor judgement or find it harder to make decisions
This could include 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.
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Ask questions repetitively
It might be hard for a person to realise they are repeating themselves, but friends and family members will notice. Ask them to verify if you are unsure.
Have trouble thinking of the right word
People might start calling items or other people the wrong name or using the wrong word - for example, calling a 'computer' a ‘typing machine’'.
When to see a GP
If you're worried about your memory or think you may have dementia, it's a good idea to see a GP. If you're worried about someone else's memory problems, encourage them to make an appointment and perhaps suggest that you go along with them.
Memory problems are not just caused by dementia – they can also be caused by depression, stress, medicines or other health problems. A GP can carry out some simple checks to try to find out what the cause may be, and they can refer you to a specialist for more tests if necessary.
Read more about diagnosing Alzheimer's disease.
