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Fiona Phillips has Alzheimers aged just 62

(61 Posts)
Primrose53 Tue 04-Jul-23 22:01:10

Just announced. Both her parents had it and I read her book about how her Mum died in her 50s and then her Dad was diagnosed. He was affected very badly and his house was a mess, he was always getting picked up by the police as he wandered miles and Fiona was trying to bring up her two boys and hold down her TV job. She ended up giving up her work so she could spend more time with her family.

I really hope her decline is not too rapid as she is a very caring, homely person. She is on a new medication so fingers crossed.

halfpint1 Sat 08-Jul-23 10:54:24

I followed up the Vegetarian and alkheimer link and as usual
it points to a lack of Vitamin B12 . <However it is now being
found that eating meat which has been corn raised and never
chewed on a piece of grass is lacking in many minerals and
is not as 'healthy' as it once was.

LovesBach Sat 08-Jul-23 08:46:18

How she must feel - a frightening diagnosis and a grim prospect, and yet she is cheerful, and determined to use her public face to help others. Brave lady - I wish her well.

Chocolatelovinggran Sat 08-Jul-23 08:00:19

Shropshirelass evidence regarding diet and Alzheimer Disease is not well documented, except that a large consumption of meat does add to a potential risk. Vegetarian diets are not considered to be in any way detrimental to health - quite the reverse.

sodapop Fri 07-Jul-23 09:05:38

Nicolenet

And? Some comments are really stupid!

What exactly was your post referring to Nicolenet

Nicolenet Thu 06-Jul-23 18:33:37

And? Some comments are really stupid!

sodapop Thu 06-Jul-23 12:44:43

Nana3

We had help frm an Admiral Nurse when my father had dementia sodapop. She was wonderful.

That's good to hear Nana3 so sorry about your father though.

lemsip Thu 06-Jul-23 11:33:54

Fiona was diagnosed a year ago, when she was on the ITV This Morning and Lorraine shows!

strange that it's all over the news again after her husband the itv producer Martin Frizzell is in trouble with the enquiry into toxic culture of ITV
................................
I have also read wendy mitchells book. a very good account.

"Somebody I used to know"
by Wendy MitchellI

Nana3 Thu 06-Jul-23 11:15:34

We had help frm an Admiral Nurse when my father had dementia sodapop. She was wonderful.

Shropshirelass Thu 06-Jul-23 09:45:11

It is very sad for anyone being diagnosed with this awful illness and their families, but I can’t help but think that being a vegetarian for over 30 years can’t have helped. I know may will disagree with me but this way of eating contributes to many health issues, we get all the minerals our bodies (including the brain) need from meat, eggs and dairy. Also ditch sugar, it is poisonous to our bodies.

NannaFirework Thu 06-Jul-23 08:32:06

💔 poor Fiona - I would not wish that awful disease on anybody xxx

V3ra Wed 05-Jul-23 18:04:50

halfpint1 thank you, I'll have a look.

JaneJudge Wed 05-Jul-23 18:02:56

Oh that is such a shame. poor Fiona

halfpint1 Wed 05-Jul-23 18:01:21

There are a various links on Google for Alzheimers and
Diabetes

Kate1949 Wed 05-Jul-23 17:48:58

My mother-in-law died of dementia aged 52. It was horrendous to see.

Primrose53 Wed 05-Jul-23 17:42:52

MaggsMcG

My Dad was only 59 when his symptoms first started. This was back in the early 80s. We'd never even heard of Alzheimers we were told he had premature dementia.

There are around 200 types of dementia. I was shocked to learn that.

MaggsMcG Wed 05-Jul-23 17:32:46

My Dad was only 59 when his symptoms first started. This was back in the early 80s. We'd never even heard of Alzheimers we were told he had premature dementia.

pascal30 Wed 05-Jul-23 16:50:28

A friend of mine died of this disease in her 60's.. terrible way to go for her and her loving family

Primrose53 Wed 05-Jul-23 15:33:12

I recommend the book The Little Girl in the Radiator by Martin Slevin. True story, very well written with both sadness and humour about his journey through dementia with his Mum.

His Mum was a real character and Irish and since my Mum was also Irish and a great character with dementia it appealed to me. Our journeys were very similar. His Mum used to whisper away and nod to the radiator and it was like her secret as she carried on this conversation.

My Mum used to imagine she could still walk and run and had planned how she could get out of her (first floor) window and run over the fields to her childhood home in Ireland even though she lived in England but she enjoyed planning it all!
Great book!

4allweknow Wed 05-Jul-23 15:12:31

Only known member in family to have Dementia/Alzheimers was a brother. He was a professional footballer. Died at 72 years. Hopefully this doesn't count as "in the family". So sad about Fiona Phillips probably knowing what was in front if her. Do hope the new meds are effective.

MayBee70 Wed 05-Jul-23 14:49:48

There was a tv series following several people suffering from early onset dementia. It was on late at night and was quite inspiring: some of them were doing very well. I’m terrified of developing Alzheimer’s as both of my parents had it and I’ve recently lost a very dear friend to it. She was the last person on earth that I thought would get it: she was a physicist and an avid reader. What saddens me is that the people you leave behind probably don’t remember the person you were. And a friend of mine, whose husband had dementia said you get help if your partner is terminally ill but when they have dementia you’re in your own with no help. Working in the NHS I used to be able to spot the early signs of Alzheimer’s in people. They would do the test with the doctor who would say they were ok but I was always right unfortunately.

Litterpicker Wed 05-Jul-23 14:39:47

Wendy Mitchell, who has written about her experience of living with dementia, including the book V3ra is reading, has a very positive piece in today’s Guardian
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/05/fiona-phillips-young-onset-dementia-fear?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Sassanach512 Wed 05-Jul-23 14:15:48

I think I fear developing Alzheimer's more than cancer at least there are cures for many types of cancer these days but not a lot of hope for Alzheimer's. I sometimes wonder if I'm heading that way when I forget names and can't think of the words for things I want to say. It scares the bejeebers out of me thinking I'm going to end up in a home for the bemused and don't know who anyone is. I hope there is a breakthrough with this new drug, it's as important to have a cure for this cruel disease as it is for cancer

Jaxjacky Wed 05-Jul-23 14:06:00

I think it’s worth reading this from the Alzheimer’s website on various types of dementia and the risk of inheriting it.

www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/is-dementia-hereditary#:~:text=Many%20people%20affected%20by%20dementia,of%20overall%20cases%20of%20dementia.

Esmay Wed 05-Jul-23 14:05:24

Poor Fiona .
What a horrible inheritance .

Let's hope that there is a new treatement and some hope for her and every other sufferer .

Dianehillbilly1957 Wed 05-Jul-23 13:46:59

Terribly sad.