Danny Glover Publicly Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
Danny Glover has publicly revealed that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2023, opening up about the diagnosis in a new PEOPLE interview and a TODAY interview with Lester Holt.
PEOPLE reported that Glover and his support network are now opening up about what life looks like after the diagnosis. His daughter, Mandisa, said she first noticed changes in 2022, when parts of familiar family stories seemed to be missing. For someone known in the family for remembering tiny details going back decades, it stood out.
In the interview, Glover said he’s still not fully accepting every part of the diagnosis. He also shared that there are moments when remembering something helps validate that he still can, along with other moments he’ll never forget.
Life after the diagnosis
His family described a life that has changed, but not ended. PEOPLE’s report stated that Glover’s brother Marty, his daughter Mandisa, and a team of caregivers are part of the support around him. His mind is often clearest in the morning, and he still reads, watches Democracy Now!, follows the world, and wants to stay engaged.
Glover and his family plan to keep working with his doctor to explore treatment options. Marty told PEOPLE the family wants him to live his best life. Glover put it more simply, saying life continues.
How people know Danny Glover
Movie fans know Glover from a long career that stretches across drama, comedy, action, and activism. He broke through with roles in Places in the Heart and The Color Purple, then became a household name as Roger Murtaugh opposite Mel Gibson in 1987’s Lethal Weapon.
That role made him part of pop culture history. But it wasn’t the whole picture.
Glover also appeared in Angels in the Outfield, Beloved, and The Last Black Man in San Francisco. In 2022, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy for his charitable work and activism.
What Alzheimer’s disease is
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for 60% to 80% of dementia cases.
Alzheimer’s is not normal aging. The Alzheimer’s Association states that the greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and most people with Alzheimer’s are 65 or older. It is also a progressive disease, which means symptoms usually worsen over time.
Common symptoms include trouble remembering newly learned information, confusion, mood and behavior changes, disorientation, stronger memory loss, and trouble speaking, swallowing, or walking as the disease advances.
Possible causes and risk factors
Information from the National Institute on Aging shows the causes of Alzheimer’s likely include a combination of age-related brain changes, genetics, health factors, and lifestyle factors. NIA also adds that Alzheimer’s is linked to changes in the brain involving abnormal tau and beta-amyloid proteins.
That does not mean every memory lapse is Alzheimer’s. Many people forget names, lose track of small things, or need a minute to recall a word. Aging can do that.
The Alzheimer’s Association says anyone experiencing dementia-like symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible. It also adds that memory problems can have many causes, so a medical visit can help determine what is really going on.
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