Tony Bennett, 94, reveals Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis and says he has been secretly battling the condition since 2016
Tony Bennett has revealed he has been been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.
The iconic American singer, 94, has announced that he was diagnosed with the condition in 2016 and has been battling the disease ever since during an article with AARP magazine on Monday.
Tony opened up about his condition for the first time in a Twitter post, where he said ‘life is a gift, even with Alzheimer’s’, and thanked his wife Susan, 54, and his family for their continued support.
Breaking news: Tony Bennett has revealed he has been been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease
‘Life is a gift – even with Alzheimer’s. Thank you to [his wife] Susan and my family for their support, and AARP,’ he wrote on Twitter. ‘The Magazine for telling my story.’
Although he was diagnosed four years ago, the article reveals that Tony began show real signs of decline two years later, while he was recording the Cheek to Cheek album with Lady Gaga.
His wife Susan told the publication: ‘There’s a lot about him that I miss. Because he’s not the old Tony anymore … But when he sings, he’s the old Tony.’
Tony reportedly first aired concerns over his health in 2015 when he admitted he was struggling to remember the names of his fellow musicians.
Statement: The iconic American singer, 94, has announced that he was diagnosed with the condition in 2016 and has been battling the disease ever since during an article with AARP magazine on Monday
Although his wife Susan tried to assist by writing a list of names to keep on his piano, Tony insisted that he needed to see a doctor.
A neurologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City confirmed the diagnosis in 2016.
Dr. Gayatri Devi, who diagnosed the star, told the magazine: ‘He is doing so many things, at 94, that many people without dementia cannot do, He really is the symbol of hope for someone with a cognitive disorder.’
More to follow.
Support: Tony opened up about his condition for the first time in a Twitter post, where he said ‘life is a gift, even with Alzheimer’s’, and thanked his wife Susan and his family for their continued support