Fiona Phillips has opened up about her Alzheimer’s diagnosis in the hope of helping other families affected by the illness (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Fiona Phillips has revealed she is living with Alzheimer’s, and has opened up about the vulnerabilities that come with such an illness.
At 62, the GMTV presenter didn’t expect to be diagnosed so young, but thought – after her mother and father died with the disease – it ‘might’ have happened when she was 80.
The star is now participating in a drug trial for the degenerative illness, which scientists hope could stall, and even reverse its affects.
Fiona visited the doctors after suffering with brain fog and anxiety for months, and last year she was met with the devastating diagnosis.
The TV star shares two children – Mackenzie, 21, and Nathaniel, 24 – with ITV boss and husband of 25 years, Martin Frizell.
The pair opened up about the diagnosis in a tell-all interview, with Martin filling in gaps in Fiona’s memory.
The TV presenter said she was ‘angry’ as the illness has already taken her mum and dad (Picture: S Meddle/ITV/Shutterstock)
Fiona is being supported by her husband, ITV boss Martin Frizell (Picture: Getty Images)
The Mirror has now reported Fiona was recently scammed on the phone by a fraudster, who managed to steal ‘thousands’ from her bank account.
Thankfully, Fiona was said to have got the money refunded in full by the bank, but the incident highlighted her vulnerability.
Indeed, Martin revealed how Fiona is becoming ‘more reliant’ on him.
While chatting about telling more people about the diagnosis, Martin revealed: “I’ll say “Fiona you’ve got do to this”. She’ll say “I don’t want to”. I’ll say, “but the doctors say so.”
‘So that makes it hard for her and then it’s hard to be independent because you have to rely on other people.’
Fiona and Martin married back in 1997 (Picture: Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock)
When Fiona shot back asking for a specific example, Martin responded: ‘But you are having to be more reliant on me and that’s why it will be good to widen the group who know what is happening so there will be other people you can rely on too. ‘
With her quick wit very much in tact, Fiona retorted: ‘Well, I might find someone more attractive to rely on!’
What is early-onset Alzheimer’s disease?
Early-onset Alzheimer’s is also known as young-onset dementia or younger-onset Alzheimer’s. It is the label given to anyone who receives a diagnosis before they turn 65.
According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, an estimated 70,800 people with dementia in the UK have young onset, and Alzheimer’s disease accounts for around one in three cases of young onset dementia.
It is thought at least five in every 100 people with Alzheimer’s are under 65, however the figure may be higher.
According to the NHS, the symptoms of Alzheimer’s can begin with usually minor memory problems, but can develop into:
confusion, disorientation and getting lost in familiar places
difficulty planning or making decisions
problems with speech and language
problems moving around without assistance or performing self-care tasks
personality changes, such as becoming aggressive, demanding and suspicious of others
hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there) and delusions (believing things that are untrue)
low mood or anxiety
The pair also revealed how they have only very recently told their children about the diagnosis.
Worried the two boys could inherit the illness, Fiona and Martin got their bloods tested, and thankfully the results came back negative.
Now, Fiona is concentrating on the medical trials, and trying to dispel stigma surrounding the illness to ensure the future is a bit brighter for those impacted by Alzheimer’s for years to come.
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The 62-year-old star has opened up about living with the illness.,