Fiona Phillips’ worry after revealing ‘awful’ Alzheimer’s diagnosis aged 62

In an announcement, Martin Frizell has introduced that he’s stepping down from his position as editor of ITV programme This Morning after a decade on the broadcaster.

The information comes a yr after Martin’s spouse, TV star Fiona Phillips, shared that she had been identified with Alzheimer’s illness.

Fiona, now 63, is best-known for being one of many faces of GMTV, which she first began engaged on within the Nineteen Nineties.

She met her now-husband Martin, 65, whereas she was on the programme, and the couple have now been married for nearly 30 years.

Final yr, Fiona opened up about her analysis, and the affect it’s had on the lives of her and her household.

When was Fiona Phillips identified with Alzheimer’s illness?

In July 2023, Fiona introduced that she had been identified with Alzheimer’s illness aged 62.

The journalist defined that she had acquired her analysis a yr prior, as she defined that she was present process trials right into a revolutionary therapy within the hopes of serving to to discover a treatment.

‘I simply hope I will help discover a treatment which could make issues higher for others sooner or later,’ she mentioned on the time, having misplaced each of her dad and mom to the ‘heartbreaking’ illness.

Fiona shared that she thought she might need been identified with Alzheimer’s when she was 80, however on the time of her analysis she was solely 61 years outdated.

‘I felt extra offended than the rest as a result of this illness has already impacted my life in so some ways; my poor mum was crippled with it, then my dad, my grandparents, my uncle. It simply retains coming again for us,’ she mentioned.

In accordance with Alzheimers.org.uk, when an individual develops dementia earlier than the age of 65, this is called young-onset dementia.

Younger-onset dementia, also called early-onset dementia, typically has completely different signs, even when it’s attributable to the identical illness as that in older individuals.

Alzheimer’s illness is the commonest sort of early-onset dementia and in accordance with Alzheimers.org.uk, impacts round one in three youthful individuals with dementia.

The illness is believed to develop when proteins construct up within the mind to kind constructions known as ‘plaques’ and ‘tangles’. The formation of those constructions causes mind cells to die and impacts the mind’s capacity to perform.

What has Fiona mentioned about her analysis?

When Fiona revealed her Alzheimer’s analysis, she admitted that she was ‘nervous’ about how individuals would understand her.

‘There’s nonetheless a problem with this illness that the general public thinks of outdated individuals, bending over a stick, speaking to themselves,’ she mentioned.

‘However I’m nonetheless right here, getting out and about, assembly associates for espresso, going for dinner with Martin, and strolling each day.’

In an interview with The Mirror, the presenter outlined how ‘anxious’ she had felt that ‘individuals can be staring or whispering about me or would simply write me off as a batty outdated girl’.

Emphasising how a lot help she had acquired, she added: ‘However there was unimaginable kindness.

‘And so many individuals have instructed me about how Alzheimer’s has hit their households, because it has attacked mine, and someway it simply makes them really feel a little bit bit much less alone.’

In September 2023, Fiona opened up in regards to the reminiscence loss that she’d been experiencing, revealing the way it impacted her whereas in the midst of a dialog.

‘It’s simply bizarre when it occurs as a result of I’m considering, “why has my mouth stopped and I’m nonetheless desirous about the sentence”. It’s actually bizarre,’ she acknowledged.

What’s Fiona best-known for on TV?

Fiona is best-known for being one of many faces of ITV’s morning programme GMTV At present, which she first started fronting in 1997 with Eamonn Holmes as a most important anchor.

She’d beforehand labored on the sequence because the leisure correspondent, interviewing a few of the largest stars in Hollywood.

Fiona stepped down from her position as most important anchor in 2008, earlier than returning two years later to visitor current on GMTV with Lorraine.

The TV persona has additionally appeared on TV reveals in her profession together with Free Ladies as a daily panelist and a visitor anchor, and Lorraine.

In 2005, she competed on Strictly Come Dancing with skilled dancer Brendan Cole, with the pair ultimately being eradicated in week 4 of the competitors.

Along with TV, Fiona has additionally labored in radio, presenting on Easy Radio and Radio 5 Stay within the late 2000s.

How lengthy have Fiona and Martin been married and have they got kids?

Fiona and Martin have been married since 1997, and the couple share two kids collectively – Nat and Mackenzie.

When she introduced her Alzheimer’s analysis publicly, she disclosed how her sons have been supporting her by means of her ordeal.

She instructed The Mirror in 2023: ‘The boys haven’t mentioned a lot about it, however they’re very candy.

‘Mackenzie, who’s nonetheless dwelling at residence, simply says issues like, “Don’t fear about tidying up Mum, I’ll do this, you relaxation”.

‘I suppose that’s his manner of displaying he cares. They’re beautiful boys.’

In November 2024, Martin introduced that he was stepping down as editor of ITV’s flagship programme This Morning after a decade, saying that he anticipated his ‘household priorities to alter’ in 2025.

‘I really like my staff at ITV and can miss them, and the fun of stay telly, but it surely’s an at all times on, 24 hours a day, seven days per week dedication, and I received’t be capable of do each,’ he mentioned in a press release.

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