Prince Charles and Alzheimer's Disease
79Reports say that Prince Charles, the 62 year old heir to the British throne, has Alzheimer's Disease and that he is suffering from memory loss and other symptoms. If true, then this is incredibly sad, as is every case of Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's Disease is characterised by memory loss, confusion and mood swings.
Years ago, it was called senile dementia and generally affects those aged over 65.
Pre-senile dementia was the label given to those under 65.
It is caused by a breakdown in the blood supply vessels in the brain.
People with Alzheimer's Disease have difficulty acquiring new memories - their brains do not seem to retain new events nor register them in their memory banks - as well as forgetting earlier memories.
There is no cure, and once diagnosed, people suffering from Alzheimer's rarely live longer than 7 years.
Possible every single one of us will have a family member or someone we know suffer from Alzheimer's Disease. For some families, Alzheimer's can be catastrophic. There have been cases where grandma or grandpa needed 24 hours care, because they would become so confused they would try to mow the lawn with a vacuum cleaner, in the middle of the night, or light a fire on the bedroom floor, believing it to be a campfire outside.
Advanced Alzheimer's Disease, especially in a still physically active person, is devastating as in their confusion they do things they have no memory of.
My own uncle suffered from Alzheimer's Disease. One night he got in his car and drove 400 miles until he ran out of fuel. He got out of his car to look for help and was found by police wandering around with no idea where he was nor what he was doing there.
If Prince Charles has indeed developed Alzheimer's Disease, my heart goes out to his wife and family.
Alhzheimer's disease is devastating to all those concerned.
When Alzheimer's is diagnosed, and doctors usually carry out a series of cognitive tests as well as a brain scan to make a diagnosis, life can become extremely difficult for the families of sufferers.
People with advanced Alzheimer's need 24 hour care, to keep them in a safe situation and out of trouble, but families need to sleep too. Often it is at night that the Alzheimer's patient does things out of character like those cases mentioned above.
If it is impossible for a family member to do a night shift, perhaps through work commitments or whatever, to make sure the Alzheimer's victim stays safe, then it might be time to look for 24 hour care in an institution for the sufferer.
While this is incredibly sad for all concerned and especially for the victim who may well still have moments of normality and a complete understanding of the situation, it is usually the solution, if a bed can be found.
Respite care is available in some areas, where the Alzheimer's patient goes into residencial care for perhaps a weekend, or for a week or two, to give the family a break from their 24 hour strain.
Alzheimer's disease is progressive and ultimately fatal as the victims gradually loses all control of their bodily functions before death ensues.
German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer first described the signs and symptoms of this type of dementia in 1906 and so the disease is named after him.
Prince Charles, elder son of Queen Elizabeth II and father of Prince William, who is due to marry his fiancee Kate Middleton in April of this year (2011), is reportedly suffering from "devastating" memory loss, according to his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles.
If true, Prince Charles, next in line to the throne of Great Britain, is certain never to become king.
The story was first published in America's Globe Magazine and is now being carried by television reports around the world.
Buckingham Palace has been silent on this issue, as has the British Press.
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Thanks Pamela. It is indeed incredibly sad and we can only hope it isn't true.
I hadn't heard about Prince Charles before this. This is a terrible disease.
Plus of course if his mother lives as long as her mother poor old Charles will be in his 80's.
I must admit I hadn't heard the news either, as you know when he comes to his home in the country he only lives a few miles away from where I live.
I overheard a group of old ladies chatting about him in the local library who said he was starting to look very old.
I piped up you know he's younger than me, to whit they replied you must have lived a very goodly life.....
They don't know me very well do they ????
It isnt just the elderly that suffer from this disease....my Sister in Law works in a care home a woman in the home is in the late stages and she is only 56 ...I hope Charles hasnt got it ,he may forget when his son is getting married !!
Of course it isn't confirmed that he has it, but they did say on the Spanish TV news yesterday that it is fact. And yes younger people do get it. At 62, Prince Charles isn't old either. It is worrying as we get older and start forgetting things like what we ate for breakfast. This of course could be due to normal aging, but it could be the start of Alzheimer's too.
@Merlin - you mean you haven't lived a good clean life?? Shock horror!!
Difine Clean !!!
opposite of 'dirty'. White, pure, unstained, saintly, innocent...
Cough.. Cough !!
I hope this is wrong as this is the first I have heard on it and it certainly doesn't appear to be featured on UK news or in UK newspapers that I have heard, (and I live on the crown dependency island of Guernsey). I would be very saddened to hear this if it is true.
I have to say Izzy that the photos of him in this hub would potentially make anyone believe this could be true, LOL, I am sure there are far more normal ones of him available that show him as he usually is :)
Those are normal pictures he always looks like that,he isnt exactly the most handsome man in the world is he ?
lol !! and to think when I was a kid I had aspirations to marry him and become a princess !!
I wondered about the photos myself as he seems to have screwed his face in both of them - but I thought he looked playful and actually quite cute in them. Better than when he is po-faced anyway. Loveslove - yeuch!! No way would I ever want to marry him - but William is something else - at least when he was younger. Now Paul McCartney, free, handsome, single, multi-millionaire - now we're talking!
Off to dig out another photo to add - grey haired as Charles is now, but with a straight face.
Izzy..I see the errors of my ways now ( or thoughts ) it was only childlike dreams !!
LOL, now that last picture is more like it, definitely the Charles I see on the news etc. Glad you added it :D
Hes still not good looking however you look at him !!
I bet Kate is glad William has inherited his Mothers genes.
I hope Kate knows what she is letting herself in for (thinking of Diana)!
@Misty, glad you liked that last photo better. He's getting more like his father every day!
Usually when Buckingham Palace remains silent, the rumour turns out to be true.
It would be sad if this be the case this time.
Thanks for bringing us this news item, Izzy.
All the best, Camlo
So long as he doesn't start going around opening his mouth and putting his foot in it like Prince Phillip does LOL.
@camlo, the British Press is under government control so I wouldn't expect them to say anything at all ahead of any announcement from BP, but you'd think someone would have at least have published a denial - or a question about what the rest of the world media are saying - but there is nothing.
@misty, he probably will eventually, whether he has Alzheimer's or not. Family trait I'm afraid.
I'm sorry to hear this news from England. However he has been under a lot of stress, losing Princess Diana. I don't think that I trust his wife, I think she was not the one to marry him, she caused trouble in his marriage. She is not worthy to be in the royal family. Who knows that she is not lying.
Nan the news isn't confirmed. It's been reported on a lot of TV stations world-wide, but not in the UK. The sad thing about Camilla is that it looks like her and Charles have been in love for many years, but he couldn't marry her and produce heirs to the throne, because Camilla was already married. I think theirs is a union made in Heaven, but he should never have married Diana and ruined her life the way he did.
I very much agree with your last comment, IzzyM. I’m glad that Charles and Camilla finally came together, since it sounds like they have loved each other for a long time, but the marriage of Charles and Diana should never have taken place. I read the rumor about Charles having Alzheimer’s disease today while I was in the grocery store, but the news was on the front page of a tabloid newspaper and I didn’t pay much attention to it. I certainly hope it’s just a wild rumor. Sixty two seems like a young age to develop the disease. My aunt just died from Alzheimer’s disease. It's a sad condition. Thanks for the information about the disease.
I am sorry to hear about your aunt, Alicia. I was a nurse for many years and know how difficult an illness it is, and also know what it is like to have a close family member suffer from it.
The globe lie all the time, they have no idea how British Protocol works. Camilla and Charles are happy. They will become King and Queen if the Queen Elizebeh dies. William and Katey will only become King and Queen when Charles dies. The Queen doesn't have any say in who rules
I haven't heard about Prince Charles having Alzheimers but if he does it is sad. It is an awful disease and I had a cousin who passed away with a severe form of it only recently, he was only 62.
I am so sorry to hear that MPG. That is very sad and my condolences to you and your family.
Thanks for this extremely informative hub on Alzheimer's disease, IzzyM. Rated up!
My dad suffered from what his neurologist called an Alzheimer's like dementia, and he experienced a driving event similar to your uncle's. On his way home, he got onto the freeway that leads out of Wash DC and drove a good 50 miles away to a suburb on Virginia. He was stopped by police who found him driving on the wrong side of the road. I knew something was wrong when he didn't come home at his usual time (I forget what he had been doing earlier). My daughter and I had to go down there to get him. She drove my car back home, and I drove him in his car.
He had been physically fit, a former mathematician, and an avid golfer before his diagnosis in his early 80s. I cared for him for about 2 years but had to put him in assisted living because I simply couldn't do it anymore. Plus, one night, he had a fall near the top of the stairs leading from the second level of the house to the living room. Thank goodness he didn't fall down the stairs but that's when I decided he wasn't safe in the house. It was downhill from there, however, and he passed away about 18 months later.
Dr. Oz did a segment on his show on memory loss and said that if you forget where your keys are, that's an example of age-related memory loss which is normal. But if you forget that you forgot where your keys are, that may be a symptom of something more serious.
I'm 60 now, and my daughter keeps freaking out every time I forget something, but I explained the difference in symptoms that Doc Oz noted on his show. Perhaps this will calm her down a bit. Plus, I try to stay physically and mentally active which I believe helps. It was only after my dad stopped playing golf and doing crossword puzzles that his symptoms became more pronounced.
Hmm...and that leaves the question...did he stop doing crossword puzzles and playing golf because he had the start of Alzheimer's at that stage? I am very sorry to hear that such a close family member had it, it must have been awful for you all. Did he even know who you were at the end up?
I'm glad you gave that example from Dr Oz. As you say memory loss is normal as we get older, but at what stage do we realise things have escalated into something more serious? The sad thing about every Alzheimer's victim I have known, and I was a nurse for many years, is that they have never really been aware that they had it. Maybe this is where the keys analogy you mentioned comes in.
You just don't realise that your recent memory is shot to pieces. You can tell the world about your exploits from WWII or some major event from when you were younger, but can't remember what you had for breakfast.
Anyway, you keep active, and thanks for commenting :)
It could very well be that's why he stopped doing crossword puzzles, IzzyM. He stopped playing golf after he fractured his hip when he fell down the stairs in his late 70s. After surgery and healing, he still played, but with less and less frequency until he stopped playing altogether.
It's really hard to say what caused what. And no, he didn't know who I was at the end. He called one of his caregivers at the assisted living establishment by my name at one point, so he knew who "Patty" was probably because I'd taken care of him for so long, but he wasn't associating the name with me.
Yes, you are right, it's hard if not impossible for the Alzheimer's sufferer to know that the disease is affecting him or her, so it's up to family members and close friends to take note of the signs.
Thanks for sharing your story Patty. I know it must be hard for you reading here and bringing back sad memories. Just maybe your words may help someone else reading here recognise the symptoms.
Thanks for your kind thoughts Izzy and I do agree with you, I think this hub will help others who are dealing with this disease.
Yes, writing about my dad did bring up some sad memories, but as you said, hopefully your hub and the comments here can help others who have loved ones who might be suffering from this disease.
This is really sad news.
By the way, I really hope they will find some kind of cure for Alzheimer's in the near future.
Wouldn't hold my breath on it Istanbulguy. Money has never been spent on medical conditions mainly suffered by the elderly.
It is indeed a sad disease, poor old Camilla. Maybe she will be the one changing his pads.
OMG what a thought!! Then again they'll have servants to do that!
I agree that Alzheimers is a horrific disease and we need to find a cure. As for Prince Charles, until it is varified, I will assume he is okay.
Usually, unfortunately, there is no smoke without fire, and the palace has not denied it. Not only that, but there has been nothing in the British Press. For something that has hit the TV channels worldwide, don't you think it odd that there isn't even a denial, never mind a comment?
Very informative hub IzzyM. Didn't know that once diagnosed, the average is 7 years before one dies. Indeed alzheimer's is a challenging desease; one that I hope that they'll find a cure for.
While I'm not a fan of the prince, I sympathize with him if this is true.
Great hub!
I think it's a blessing in disguise when someone with Alzheimer's dies. The person they were is long gone anyway. What I think is horrible is when people live on and on with it, not recognising anyone, not their friends nor family nor their own children. How awful is that! Give me a heart attack any day to die of, rather than alzheimers.
Thanks for commenting :)
Poor old Charles, to think he's waited 60 years to sit on the throne and if this is true, them he wont get to live his dream as the King of England.. so sad indeed.
I think is chances of ever becoming king are slim anyway. The queen seems to be going to live forever. Her mother was long-lived too. 101 when she died.
Great article. I lost a wonderful aunt to this disease. I've never cared much for the Prince one way or the other, but this is sad news for anyone.
Thanks Stan. I think most of us have been affected by Alzheimer's one way or another, and I am so sorry to hear of your aunt.
I am surprised to read this, as there has been nothing on British TV or in the newspapers about this, and I would have thought that if this was true, the UK would be the first country to have reported it.
Your guess is as good as mine,Neville. I got my info from Spanish national TV news.
Interesting and informative article
Poor guy. I wish the queen had stepped down to give him a chance to shine for once in his life. It would have been a self-less act of love for her. He seemed like an intelligent and progressive thinker who could have done more good than she did.
Yeah it's a shame he never got his chance.
I hope the reports are incorrect. Alzheimers is such a horrible disease. There needs to be a cure.
I doubt we'll see a cure in this lifetime, because it is considered to be an old person's disease and there are many more deserving causes involving children and young adults.
I really hope that this is not true but it wouldn't surprise me if it is. Our family is currently dealing with our father in law and each day is a challange. He has also decided that he does not need his medication. It really is a horrible disease that is hard on the whole family!
My heart goes out to you and your family. It is a dreadful disease that robs a person of everything. That man who looks like your father-in-law isn't the same person anymore.
Very interesting - I had not heard the rumor about Prince Charles and Alzheimer's Disease. Of course, I remember when there were whisperings about Ronald Reagan (which turned out to be true). It is a terrible disease. My grandmother is suffering from it and we've watched her decline dramatically over the past year.
I am so sorry to hear of your grandmother Steph! It seems like everybody knows someone who is affected.
Interesting new information on Charles. Some of his pictures make you wonder if he is okay--now I know. .
I've already been told that the pictures of Prince Charles I put up here tend to lend to the idea that there is something wrong with him. That is why I added the bottom picture. The man simply isn't photogenic so try not to read too much into the piccies. We don't know if he has Alzheimer's as it has neither been confirmed nor denied.
Wow I hope this isn't true, although I guess deterioration is inevitable as we get older.
I hope it is not true. He is not very old and it is unlikely for him to suffer such disease.
if this is true, it's another tragedy in the royal family. I hope it turns out to be something else.
alzheimer's is a deadly disease and can put a patient in a dangerous situation. my father suffered from the illness and it was not easy. the scary part of it is the greater possibility that it is genetic and the offspring can have the disease if their parents had it.
Sadly this is very true bingskee. I hesitated to write about it possibly being genetic because I don't want to scare people. Really sorry to hear about your father.
If true this is very sad and I hope the tabloids don't take advantage of the situation before the family get's a chance to deal with it privately.
Samantha, I don't know where you are from, but the UK press is controlled.
So all this stuff about them hounding Diana, and now possibly Kate, has been allowed to happen from the very top. Scary thought.
Oh and silence over Prince Charles.
The royal family is just inbred
interesting Hub and informative, too!
I hope its not true!
If it is not what a horrid rumour that the press and news abroad have been spreading. if it is true then they are probably doing what every family does and wait till after the wedding to do it.
A few years ago I was i church and a very brave lady stood up in front of us and said that she had Alzheimers- she is losing her memory now and becomes very confused- it is so sad- for the first year ever she could not make christmas cakes for her children and she was racked with pain over it.
What a rotten disease
You are right casweworker. It robs a person of ...everything. It is horrible and at the end up is even harder for their families because the person with Alzheimers reaches a stage where they don't recognise anybody, especially their loved ones. We all have to die of something, but please let it be a heart attack and not this.
This is a very sad tale. Prince Charles has been heir to the throne and a king in waiting for many years. It seem now that he is getting closer to the throne as her majesty the queen get older Prince Charles is going to be cheated of the chance to become King by this illness we call Alzheimers. A freinds mum had alzeimers later in her life and sometimes the moods swings and fogetfullness and the confusion were very alarming to have to witness. My freinds mum passed away about 6 years after her diagnosis. This hub is very original as I have not read of this story about prince charles having Alzheimers anywhere else.
Google it and you will find plenty about it, but I am unable to access the original article which appeared in Globe magazine. I find it deeply disturbing that I am unable to access the original file, as up until now the only files I could not access were a few youtube videos - something to do with copyright infringement - and even that has only been a recent development. Has the whole world except the US been barred from www.globemagazine.com/ ?
Having lost my mother to Alzheimers and my father to vascular dementia I know, first hand, the devastation caused both to the person afflicted and to those who love them - but I also know the devastation caused by sensationalism and speculation in that sector of the press which is hungry for a story and who will publish almost any unsubstantiated fact if it will sell copy.
I have to say that I seem to be the only one who does not laud your hub. I cannot because although your information on Alzheimer's is sound, your title is based on unproven, unvalidated information that I pray is unfounded.
Am sorry to hear this. God will see him through.
Alison, I do not say anywhere that he has it, only that reports say he does and that those reports are not substantiated. Even the title says Prince Charles AND Alzheimer's as opposed to Prince Charles HAS Alzheimers as other sites have titled theirs. I understand and respect your opinion and I an very sorry to hear of your parents.
This is really tragic! I worked with Alzheimer patients for a number of years, and saw how terrible this disease is and how it just ruins lifes. My hope is that there will be a cure soon. I will pray for Prince Charles and hope everyone else will too!
Excellent article and very sad for Charles and his family. I always had the feeling that Charles would never get to be King for some reason. I think the next one to wear the crown will be William indeed and actually I think the British people probably want it that way as they see a lot of promise in William. Thanks for sharing this I had not heard this before. Cheers.
Thanks Izzy for this informative hub. I had not heard about Charles. It is a devastating diagnosis for any family to have to struggle with. May God watch over them. Voted up and more :)
Good article on Alzheimers disease but I think it is a little unfair to lump poor old Prince Charles in with it. I only saw this rumour in a very disreputable newspaper while waiting to pay at the grocery store check out. Publishing this only adds fuel to the rumour and must make every one concerned with (and about) him very sad. I hope there is no truth in it at all. We should wait to hear the truth before inflaming it with heresay.
I think you'll find that the Globe blocked their own website in countries where they could be charged for libel for allowing it. It appears to be fairly common practice. It also explains why other sources say that "It has been reported..." instead of "He has..."
Thanks for that Voice of Reason! Guess that makes sense and explains why their website is blocked to me. The Charles story was reported on Spanish TV national news for the one day only, and there's never been a mention since.
That is unbelievable that this has been hushed in England. The tabloids there are usually all over the royal family.
Maybe it isn't true? The tabloids in the UK know better than to publish something they can't confirm. On the other hand, there's no smoke without fire...
Are those images suppose to portray him as a person with Alzheimers? Years ago, when our diagnostic protocol was primitive, doctors would indeed rely on photos and grimaces to diagnose psychotic disorders and depression. Scary stuff. I don't think that's a fair portrayal and I would want some credible news. (have not come across any, yet) Best not to speculate (imo)
When I was searching for photos, in most of them he was grimacing so I chose one. But if you read up you'll see I added another more normal looking one after someone pointed out that the photo I'd had of him made him look ill (to be honest I hadn't really thought of that when I chose it - I thought it made him look human!)
Alzheimers disease is difficult for everyone involved. We can only hope that one day there will be a cure or prevention for it. Thanks for the interesting article.
Yes it is a very difficult disease and maybe one day?
@Izzy--oh, that is odd. He must not be very photogenic. I guess royalty doesn't preclude awkward grimaces--lol.
No he definitely isn't photogenic! The lower picture proves that and that was the most 'normal' one I could find!
Hopefully it's wrong. I do not need any older guy got it. Grand Ma , Grand Pa -- They had the goods memory or goods things to teach their child or more.. If they got it hopefully all concern treat them in the good way.
Yeah hopefully it's wrong.
I hope it is true. I hope he dies soon and William and Kate send Camilla back to the gutter she came out of.
Regardless of ones feelings about the Royal family and Prince Charles it is very sad if indeed he has Alzheimers. It is not something I would wish on anyone. Hopefully, it is just a rumour.
Absolutely Shaun. Alzheimer's is a terrible disease.
I was saddened by this hub Izzy having just read your very humorous hub on Charles' black mum! I don't have any more insight into the truth of the matter than the rest of us, but he sure has been off camera for a good while. Hope the rumors are false. In any case, thanks for putting out such complete info on Alzheimers.
Yes I should have warned you that the two hubs, although related by family, are actually quite different, but I didn't want to mention that in the comments of the other hub. This is sad and serious and fingers crossed isn't true.
My mother showed signs of Dementia in her early 60s and by the time she was 68 or so, it was full blown Alzheimers. She was sooo young, too young for this horrible disease. An active body and all. She died at age 72 a few years ago. IT's a scary disease, a very sad one...and my heart hurts for the royal family if Prince Charles has it. The good thing is they have enough money to get him the best care. My mother was poor from the get and between us 4 children we managed to scrape together enough to get her some help but it wasn't as much as was needed to keep her in the best of care. As Americans, we really need MORE help for our elderly!
Gia this is so sad to hear. Yes your mother was very young. What a pity she couldn't get to enjoy her retirement after bringing up 4 children. As you say, it costs money to get respite care, but you as the family really need this help, otherwise you couldn't cope.
Trouble is, if BP deny this then it gives every media person in the Uk a story to report. If they keep quiet, the foreign press have a field day but the UK press stay silent.
I'm not a massive fan of Charles, but I hope it's NOT true.
Have you noticed how the UK Press seem to be leaving him alone? That in itself is telling IMO
I noticed that Craig Ferguson stopped doing his Prince Charles skits some time ago. That was considerate.
The late 1980s was a tough time for Alzheimer's research here in Ohio. There was no respite care, very little treatment, and the medical community told families to quit work and take care of their Alz. patient themselves 24/7. It was horrid. Now we have treatment facilities and respite.
Some patients were simply committed to mental institutions in the 1980s and 1990s. We found many people that lived with horrible symptoms for 20 years after the dignosis and this made a nightmare for the families as well. Caregivers were sicker than the patients after a while.
It is horrendous for families trying the take care 24/7 of a relative with Alzheimer's. Good to hear respite care has been introduced and even better, treatment facilities. No matter how much you love that person, which could be your mother or father, when Alzheimer's is diagnosed you have to be aware of everything they do, 24 hours a day. There is no time for relaxing and enjoying life.
Alzheimer is indeed a very serious prob, for both the sufferer and families. God bless Prince Charles and whomever that face with this disease.
Absolutely, KenWu, and thanks for commenting:)
Hi ya,i wasn't aware that Prince charle's is suffering disease..i pray to almighty for his wellness
It's not been confirmed ReviewEnvelope. It might even be total lies.
Alzheimer's and demetia are not the same. You need a doctor and not tabloids to diagnose the condition.
Sometimes the tabloids print stories no-one else will. Doesn't make it lies.
People who help to spread unfounded stories, which can only be designed to give hurt and distress to individuals, and their families, should think about it before they "put pen to paper".
How many here would be happy to see baseless speculations about their own health being spread all over the internet, or the tabloids.
There is no history of alzheimers within The Royal Family, and it is largely an inherited desease.
Cant you all see that this is just another attempt to promote the passing over of The Prince of Wales, in favour of The Duke of Cambridge, in the succession.
It is not going to happen, and nothing that is printed in american gutter magazines is going to change that.
Pamela99 Level 7 Commenter 15 months ago
IZZY, I agree Alzheimers is a terrible disease. You wrote an excellent hub that explained the disease and all its ramifications. It does sound like Prince Charles has the disease and that is a sad state of affairs. Voted/Rated awesome