FILE: Danny Glover attends The Black Music & Entertainment Walk Of Fame Induction Announcement And Reception at MODEx Studios on June 12, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)
Actor Danny Glover has Alzheimer’s disease, he revealed in a "Today" show interview that aired Wednesday.
Glover, who starred in classics like the "Lethal Weapon" franchise and "The Color Purple," told former NBC News anchor Lester Holt that he’s been living with the deadly disease since 2022.
Danny Glover’s Alzheimer diagnosis
What they're saying:
The 79-year-old "Angels in the Outfield" actor said he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s "not long after" he received an honorary Oscar humanitarian award in 2022 for his advocacy in social justice and human rights.
"I could live with it, in a sense," Glover said, but he added that "I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing."
Glover said his movements, speech and memory have slowed since his diagnosis, but he’s still active in the community in San Francisco, and he’s got his family to help.
"They’ve got my back," he said.
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Glover and his family are working with the Alzheimer’s Association to bring awareness and educate Americans on the fight against the disease.
"I think it’s really important for him to have control of his own narrative, of his own life story," Glover’s daughter, Mandisa, told Holt. "That’s really important. And the time is now. What better time but now for him to speak for himself?
"It’s important because people ask questions sometimes, and I don’t want to be a dishonest person and say, ‘Oh, yeah, everything is all right. It’s all great."
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
The backstory:
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Alzheimer's is a progressive and fatal disease, gradually worsening from the early stages of memory loss to the inability to have a conversation. More severe symptoms include "disorientation, mood and behavior changes; deepening confusion about events, time and place; unfounded suspicions about family, friends and professional caregivers; more serious memory loss and behavior changes; and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking."
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Black people are twice as likely as white people to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
On average, people with Alzheimer's live four to eight years after being diagnosed, but can live as long as 20 years.
Age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s: Most people who have it are 65 and older. If a person younger than 65 is diagnosed, it’s considered "younger-onset" or "early-onset" Alzheimer’s.
By the numbers:
More than seven million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.
What causes Alzheimer’s disease?
Dig deeper:
Alzheimer's is likely a result of multiple complex factors, including age, genetics, environment, lifestyle and coexisting medical conditions.
People with Alzheimer’s also tend to have a larger buildup of plaques and tangles in the brain that damage and kill nerve cells, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Treating Alzheimer’s disease
There’s no cure for Alzheimer's, but there are two medications — donanemab (Kisunla) and lecanemab (Leqembi) — that remove plaque from the brain and lessen the cognitive decline for people with early Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s prevention
What you can do:
While some factors for Alzheimer’s are out of your control, like age and genetics, there are things you can do to lower your risk, including regular exercise and keeping your heart healthy.
Several conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease — like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol — also increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, studies show as many as 80% of people with Alzheimer's disease also have cardiovascular disease.
The Source: This report includes comments from actor Danny Glover and his family in his interview with the "Today" show, as well as information from the Alzheimer’s Association.