Former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips has disclosed that she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at the age of 62. The journalist and broadcaster discovered the condition a year ago after experiencing months of brain fog and anxiety, she told the Daily Mirror.
Phillips, who anchored ITV's breakfast show for over a decade, said dementia had 'decimated' her family, with her mother, father, and uncle also having suffered from the disease. Despite fearing she might one day be diagnosed, she said it still came as a shock when tests revealed early-stage Alzheimer's.
The mother-of-two is now participating in drug trials at University College Hospital in London for a medication called Miridesap, which may slow the disease's progression. Her husband, Martin Frizell, editor of ITV's This Morning, administers daily injections. Phillips said she is determined to continue working and living normally.
Phillips previously presented a Channel 4 documentary about her parents' dementia and has been a long-standing supporter of Alzheimer's Research UK. Fellow TV presenters Lorraine Kelly and Susanna Reid expressed their support, with Kelly praising Phillips' courage and optimism in dealing with the diagnosis.
Kate Lee of the Alzheimer's Society and Hilary Evans of Alzheimer's Research UK commended Phillips for sharing her story, highlighting that around 70,800 people under 65 in the UK have dementia. Early-onset Alzheimer's accounts for about 5% of all cases.
