Television presenter Ruth Langsford has spoken candidly about her profound fear of developing dementia, a condition that affected both of her parents.
A Family History of Dementia
The 65-year-old Loose Women star explained that her anxiety stems from her family's medical history. Her late father, Dennis Langsford, began showing signs of dementia in his late sixties and received an official diagnosis at age 72. This concern was compounded when her mother, Joan Langsford, was later diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Ruth, who became a household name co-hosting ITV's This Morning with her estranged husband Eamonn Holmes, admitted these personal experiences directly influence her interpretation of her own memory lapses.
'It Really Frightens Me'
In an exclusive interview, Ruth described the immediate worry she feels during what many would dismiss as a simple 'senior moment'.
"All the time, literally all the time, if I ever have a senior moment where I go, 'what's her name again?', somebody that I know quite well, and I have a complete and utter blank, it really frightens me," she confessed.
She noted the poignant parallel in their ages, saying, "I'm 65 now, my dad was officially diagnosed when he was 72. But looking back on it, we think he was displaying signs... he was in his late 60s and I'm 65." Ruth attempts to rationalise these moments, telling herself they are merely a result of being busy, but the underlying fear persists.
The Decision Against Genetic Testing
When asked if she would take a test to determine her genetic risk for dementia, Ruth was unequivocal in her refusal, citing the absence of a cure.
"They all say, 'if there was a test, would you take it?' I go, 'why? What's the point unless there's a cure?'" she stated. "If I could take a test, and they said, 'if you take the test, we could stop it happening', 100% I would take the test, but they can't, and I know what's ahead."
Adopting a philosophical stance, she added, "Of course I worry about it with both parents having had dementia, but I just think, what will be will be."
Proactive Steps for Brain Health
Despite her fears, the mum-of-one is not passive about her cognitive well-being. She actively engages in activities believed to support brain health.
"I do crosswords and things like that. And I'm very active because I'm still very busy with work, they say that helps," Ruth shared, acknowledging that while she takes preventative measures, the worry remains.
According to the Alzheimer's Society, these concerns, while understandable, may be overstated for many. The majority of dementia cases are not directly inherited by children and grandchildren. Strong genetic links are typically only found in rarer forms of dementia, which constitute a small proportion of overall diagnoses.
The charity also notes that while vascular dementia itself is usually not inherited, underlying health conditions that can contribute to it, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, may have a genetic component passed through families.
