Lethal Weapon actor Danny Glover has revealed he has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years. The 79-year-old announced the news during an interview on The Today Show, during which he explained that he had been diagnosed “not long” after receiving an honorary Oscar in 2022.
“I could live with it, in a sense. I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing,” he said, adding that his movements, speech and memory have slowed. However, the support of his family, who he said “have got my back”, was getting him through.
Family Support and Public Announcement
In the interview, Glover’s daughter Mandisa added that it was “really important” for him to speak on his own terms. “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’,” she said.
Glover also spoke about his diagnosis with People, in which he said he was “still not accepting in my mind all parts of it”. “There are the moments that you keep remembering that validate the fact that you can remember stuff. And there are moments I’ll never forget,” he said. However Glover added: “I don’t feel like it’s the end of my life. There’s work to do. I still have my daughter, I have friends. I want to just say, your life continues.”
Reconciling with the Diagnosis
Speaking about reconciling himself with the diagnosis he received three years ago, Glover said it was “in some sense acknowledging that it’s happening to you and at the same time that there are millions of people suffering from it”.
Throughout his nearly 40-year career, Glover has amassed more than 170 film and TV credits to his name. His film acting debut came in Escape From Alcatraz in 1979, but he rose to fame in the 1980s playing Roger Murtaugh alongside Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon films – and later starred in Places In The Heart, The Colour Purple, and Predator 2. He has been awarded five Emmys and four Grammys. Glover served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme from 1998-2004, working on global campaigns against poverty, disease and combating HIV/Aids across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Glover was also appointed as a goodwill ambassador for Unicef in 2004.
Alzheimer’s Society Response
Alzheimer’s Society chief executive Michelle Dyson said: “Our thoughts are with Danny Glover following his announcement that he is living with Alzheimer’s disease. Sharing such personal news publicly raises much-needed awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, and we are extremely grateful to Danny for speaking openly about his diagnosis. Receiving a diagnosis can be frightening, but we believe it’s better to know. Alzheimer’s Society is here to offer our support to everyone affected by dementia, through our website alzheimers.org.uk and dementia support line on 0333 150 3456.”
Early Symptoms of Alzheimer's
The hallmark of early Alzheimer's is the disruption of daily life. It goes beyond occasionally forgetting where you left your keys and moves into struggling to retain new information.
Memory Loss That Disrupts Daily Life
Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs. This includes forgetting important dates or events, asking the same question repeatedly, and increasingly relying on memory aids (like sticky notes or electronic reminders).
Difficulty Planning or Solving Problems
Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. For example, struggling to follow a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills.
Struggling with Familiar Tasks
People often find it hard to complete routine tasks they've done for years, such as driving to a familiar location, organising a grocery list, or remembering the rules of a favourite game.
Confusion with Time or Place
Losing track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time is common. Someone might forget where they are or how they got there.
Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships
For some, vision problems are an early sign. This can lead to difficulty judging distance, determining colour or contrast, or causing issues with driving.
New Problems with Words in Speaking or Writing
Following or joining a conversation can become difficult. They may stop in the middle of a sentence, have no idea how to continue, or repeat themselves. They might also struggle with vocabulary, like calling a "watch" a "hand-clock."
Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps
Putting things in unusual places (like a wallet in the freezer) and being unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing.
Decreased or Poor Judgment
Changes in decision-making, such as exercising poor judgment when dealing with money (e.g., giving large amounts to telemarketers) or paying less attention to grooming and hygiene.
Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities
Because of the changes they are experiencing, a person may start to scale back on hobbies, social projects, or sports.
Changes in Mood and Personality
They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.
Progressive Symptoms (Moderate to Late Stage)
As the disease progresses into the moderate and severe stages, the symptoms become more pronounced and intense:
- Deepening Confusion: Forgetting major life events, their own address, or even the names of close family members.
- Hallucinations or Delusions: Seeing things that aren't there or experiencing unfounded suspicions about loved ones or caregivers.
- Restlessness and Wandering: Pacing, becoming restless in the late afternoon/evening (known as "sundown syndrome"), or wandering away from home.
- Loss of Physical Abilities: In the final stages, individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, carry on a conversation, and eventually, control movement (including swallowing and walking).
