Fiona Phillips: The tragic impact Alzheimer's had on her life years before she was officially diagnosed

Fiona Phillips, former GMTV host, announced that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease on 4 July 2023. She had known her diagnosis for a year before she decided to share the news with the public.

Fiona Phillips is known for her work on TV Loose Women and GMTV which she joined in 1993. She stayed at GMTV until 2008when she decided to quit her position. Her work has included many celebrity interviews with people like Leonardo DiCaprioand Brad Pitt.

When the news of her diagnosis came out, Phillips received a massive amount of support from colleagues and strangers online. But did you know that the disease had already been impacting her for years …

Fiona Phillips quits GMTV

Fiona Phillips joined GMTV in 1993 where she started working as an entertainment correspondent. This job meant that Phillips was working in Los Angeles covering big entertainment cases like the OJ Simpson trial.

She then stayed with GMTV but this time in London where she became a main anchor on the show GMTV Today. To everyone’s surprise, Phillips decided to quit this position in 2008.

In a statement she released, she explained her decision:

I love the job but I've got other responsibilities - the children, a home life and an elderly dad who needs me - and I've recognised that I can't have it all. (... This is) the hardest decision I have ever made.

In light of the new revelations Fiona Phillips made, one of the reasons why she left the job she loved was Alzheimer’s disease. Indeed, both her dad and mum suffered and passed away from it.

In an interview with The GuardianFiona Phillips explains that she was a carer for her mother as she was suffering from the disease:

She said:

I wanted to do it. I just felt this compulsion to be with them.

In the same interview Phillips explains that she was taking care of her mother while she was working on GMTV and pregnant with her second child therefore impacting her relationship and mental health.

I was pregnant with my second baby, I was getting up at 3am every day for work. I was beside myself. I didn't want to go out anywhere. Martin would go out on his own. I just wanted to be in this cocoon and hide myself away. I used to sit on my bed, head in my hands, rocking, absolutely desperate

Read more:3 surprising signs you're at risk of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer is a genetic disease

When Fiona Phillips announced that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer she said:

This disease has ravaged my family and now it has come for me. I felt more angry than anything else because this disease has already impacted my life in so many ways; my poor mum was crippled with it, then my dad, my grandparents, my uncle. It just keeps coming back for us

She also explained that at first she didn’t want to share her diagnosis with her children. Maybe knowing what it is like having parents with the disease motivated that decision. But she came around, and now she is sharing the news with the world hoping that ‘telling her story can help end the stigma that remains around the disease - and give comfort to others by sharing news of clinical trials.

NHS tips to slow down Alzheimer symptoms

Phillips is through those clinical trials which hope to find a cure for the disease. While these clinical tests search for a cure, the NHS explains there are other ways which can help slow the symptoms.

While they focus a lot on medicine that can help with symptoms they also point toward other solutions that focus around therapy and activities. They explain that ‘activities and support are just as important in helping people live well with dementia’

These alternative tools to slow down the impact of Alzheimer's focus on ‘taking part in group activities to improve memory and problem-solving skills’ as well as stimulating 'the parts of your brain that are working to help the parts that are not.’

The NHSalso mentions the use of pictures and other things to trigger memories in the hopes to get the patient to talk about their past.

All of these techniques must be done with a trained professional.

We do not know if Fiona Phillips is using those techniques herself but we hope that she is getting all the help and support that she needs.

Read more:

⋙ Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford: Everything we know about their intimate 26-year relationship

⋙ Piers Morgan believes that Phillip Schofield will make a comeback: 'Maybe he will write a book'

Sources:

Wikipedia

The Guardian: Fiona Phillips quits GMTV

The Guardian: Fiona Phillips: Losing Mum and Dad day by day

Mirror: Fiona Phillips announces she's battling Alzheimer's aged just 62

NHS: