Singer Tony Christie spoke on BBC Breakfast about his dementia diagnosis on Wednesday.
The 79-year-old Road to Amarillo star said he is “not worried” about the disease, is determined to keep performing – and wants to reassure others who have had the same diagnosis.
He said: “I have a feeling that in a few years there will be pills that will cure it. I am not worried.’
‘I’m sure there will soon be pills to cure’: Tony Christie, 79, spoke about dementia on Wednesday’s BBC Breakfast and said he was not worried about his diagnosis
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking and behaviour.
He detailed how he discovered he had the condition, saying: “I used to do two or three crossword puzzles a day and [I wasn’t able to]. I was like what happened to me.
‘[My wife Sue said] Let’s go and let you check. They told me I had early onset dementia and that was two years ago. i ignored it
“I said just keep going and I just kept working. So why did I come out? Well, I’ve met a lot of people who have it and worry about it.
He said: “I said just keep going and I just kept working. So why did I come out? Well, I’ve met a lot of people who have it and worry about it.
Tough Times: Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking and behavior
Tony said: “The advice for sufferers is to see a specialist and take pills.”
“I’m not worried about that.
“I talked to specialists and they gave me pills and little by little they worked.”
He continued: “The advice for concerned people is to go to a specialist and use pills.”
Tony previously revealed he was worried he was developing dementia after realizing his memory loss in 2019.
The star said that despite playing the same songs for 50 years, he now needs the lyrics on an autocue.
At the moment, Tony is trying not to address the diagnosis and is in the process of traveling to Nashville, Tennessee to record new music.
However, the star admits he fears the day will come when he will no longer be able to perform, despite the insistence of his wife Sue, who is his wife of 55 years: “He will never lose it. “Let’s not let him lose it.”
Tony added that he’s not worried about not singing Amarillo and joked that audiences sing it to him at his shows.
Although his long-term memory is still good, he admits that he has been struggling to remember things lately.
But he sees the positive in the situation that he will be happy if it encourages other people to get tested and take medication.
And he insists the show must go on as the singer plans a celebratory performance for his upcoming 80th birthday.
The hitmaker previously shared how a test two years ago revealed that a small build-up of plaque in his brain was causing memory problems.
Tony told The Mirror: “For a few years I have noticed that my memory is failing, which is a serious problem, especially as there is a history of dementia in my family.
“It’s gotten to the point where I need the lyrics to all the songs I play live written on Autocue, and I’ve been singing most of them for half a century.”
However, the star tried to remain positive, adding: “If it’s bad news, I expect jokes from people saying they suspected it all along, so clearly I still don’t know how to get to Amarillo, 48 years after this issue was published. first hit.’
Fears: The star admits he fears the day will come when he cannot return to the stage, despite his wife Sue’s insistence of 55 years that he “won’t lose it”.
Tony also revealed that he had to write down his bandmates’ names to make sure he didn’t misrepresent them on stage.
And at a recent gig in Germany, the I Did What I Did For Maria singer misread the city he was in, thinking he was in Hamburg when in fact he was in Leipzig.
Tony explained that while he tried to make it a joke, the moment was “really no laughing matter.”
He also had trouble remembering things while writing autobiography The Song Interpreter and had to ask his 51-year-old wife Sue for help.
Star: Tony’s hits include “Las Vegas” and “I Did What I Did For Maria,” but the sing-along classic “Amarillo” was his first song to sell a million copies. Tony performs in 1967
Although Tony’s hits were Las Vegas and I Did What I Did For Maria, Amarillo was his first song to sell a million copies.
The catchy tune was another hit when it was used by Peter Kay for a comic relief video in 2005.
Tony was originally to star alongside Peter Kay in the song, but his involvement was cut short until he was completely dropped from the shooting schedule.
Only an angry phone call from his manager, son Sean, threatening to refuse permission to use the number, got him back to work. . . for just 14 seconds of footage.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
Dementia is a generic term used to describe a range of neurological disorders
A WORLDWIDE CARE
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking and behaviour.
There are many forms of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common.
Some people have a combination of different forms of dementia.
Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person experiences dementia in their own unique way.
Dementia is a global problem, but it is most common in wealthier countries where people are likely to live to a very old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ASKED?
The Alzheimer’s Association reports that there are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. By 2040, this number is expected to rise to 1.6 million.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 percent of people diagnosed.
There are an estimated 5.5 million people with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. A similar percentage increase is expected for the coming years.
The risk of developing dementia also increases with age.
Diagnosis rates are improving, but many people with dementia are believed to remain undiagnosed.
IS THERE A MEDICINE?
There is currently no cure for dementia.
But new drugs can slow its progression, and the earlier it’s caught, the more effective treatments can be.
Source: Alzheimer’s Association
Source link
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
