Fiona Phillips’ husband, Martin Frizell, on her Alzheimer’s diagnosis

The husband of TV presenter Fiona Phillips says they’ve develop into socially remoted since her Alzheimer’s analysis.Phillips, who hosted ITV’s GMTV breakfast programme, introduced in 2023 that she had been recognized with Alzheimer’s the earlier 12 months, on the age of 61.In an interview with the Day by day Telegraph, Martin Frizell, a former editor of ITV’s This Morning present, mentioned: “You develop into nearly invisible.”He added: “We nonetheless have some shut associates. However I feel individuals suppose, oh gosh, Fiona, perhaps she does not look the identical, or they do not know what to say, or it brings into sharp focus their very own mortality.”On the time of her analysis, Phillips mentioned she had suffered months of mind fog and anxiousness – and initially had attributed the signs to the menopause.”It is one thing I may need thought I would get at 80,” Phillips defined. “However I used to be nonetheless solely 61 years outdated.”Mr Frizell mentioned he now doesn’t know what to do both along with her cookery books or designer garments – each issues she now not makes use of.”Fiona hasn’t cooked in two years,” he mentioned.”A part of the heartache now’s she’s received this dressing room filled with probably the most wonderful garments however this horrible illness means she’s more than pleased simply carrying the identical T-shirt, the identical trousers, the identical factor – day in, day trip.”Mom-of-two Phillips has written a memoir since her analysis, which is because of be launched on Thursday.Mr Frizell contributed to the e-book, saying he had supposed to jot down “just a few paragraphs” however ended up writing “24,000 phrases”.”I began off writing about what an excellent girl she is and simply how horrible it’s and dreadfully unfortunate that she is the newest within the lengthy line of her household to get it,” he advised the Telegraph.”Then I simply received very indignant as to what little assist there may be. As a household, we simply sort of get by means of it and in some unspecified time in the future we’ll want extra assist, however there’s simply nothing actually.”In 2023, Phillips mentioned the illness had “decimated” her household – along with her mom, father and uncle all receiving a analysis.She had cared for her dad and mom and made two documentaries concerning the illness – one in 2009 referred to as Mum, Dad, Alzheimer’s and Me, about her household’s historical past of dementia, and My Household and Alzheimer’s in 2010.The NHS says the time period dementia encompasses “a bunch of signs related to an ongoing decline of mind functioning”.Alzheimer’s illness is the most typical reason behind dementia within the UK – however its precise trigger shouldn’t be but absolutely understood. There’s at present no remedy for the illness, although some therapies can quickly enhance signs.One in three individuals born within the UK can be recognized with dementia, in accordance with the Alzheimer’s Society charity.Talking to ITV’s This Morning on Friday, Mr Frizell mentioned: “Society has determined we’re not going to take it as significantly as we should always.”The cash that is there for Alzheimer’s analysis, it is like shopping for a Starbucks cup of espresso, principally attempting to combat a illness. It is not possible.”Phillips offered GMTV between 1993 and 2008. She has since led a variety of documentaries and episodes of Panorama, and was a columnist for the Mirror.