Ted Turner
Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 3:32 am
Has Lewy body dementia:
I took care of a client with Lewy body last year; it is one of the most devastating disease processes imaginable. My client, like Ted Turner apparently, was kept largely clueless about his diagnosis. Lewy body isn’t well understood by many physicians - but what is known is devastating. Robin Williams killed himself because he was experiencing the symptoms of Lewy body dementia - which include frightening hallucinations in addition to the more typical forgetfulness and disorientation of Alzheimer’s related dementias. And Lewy Body IS fatal; the average lifespan after diagnosis is 5-8 years.
My client was a wonderful, highly intelligent man who I deeply respected; I spent awake overnights with him so his family could sleep while I helped him navigate the terror of his increasingly horrific hallucinations and paranoia. It was brutal to witness and broke my heart. If I were ever diagnosed myself I believe I would very seriously consider suicide before the disease progressed too far to have the capacity to choose.
I have such profound sympathy for Ted Turner and the decline he faces in the months and years to come.
https://money.cnn.com/2018/09/28/media/ ... index.htmlTed Turner reveals he has Lewy body dementia
By Tom Kludt September 28, 2018: 3:24 PM ET
Ted Turner is battling Lewy body dementia, the CNN founder revealed in an interview that will air over the weekend.
Turner told veteran newsman Ted Koppel that he has "a mild case of what people have as Alzheimer's."
"It's similar to that. But not nearly as bad. Alzheimer's is fatal," Turner said in an interview for "CBS Sunday Morning." "Thank goodness I don't have that. But, I also have got, let's -- the one that's -- I can't remember the name of it."
He then paused, according to the press release from CBS, before saying, "Dementia. I can't remember what my disease is."
Koppel conducted the interview, which will air this Sunday, at Turner's ranch in Montana. Turner said he feels "tired" and "exhausted" as a result of disorder. "That's the main symptoms, and, forgetfulness," he said.
I took care of a client with Lewy body last year; it is one of the most devastating disease processes imaginable. My client, like Ted Turner apparently, was kept largely clueless about his diagnosis. Lewy body isn’t well understood by many physicians - but what is known is devastating. Robin Williams killed himself because he was experiencing the symptoms of Lewy body dementia - which include frightening hallucinations in addition to the more typical forgetfulness and disorientation of Alzheimer’s related dementias. And Lewy Body IS fatal; the average lifespan after diagnosis is 5-8 years.
My client was a wonderful, highly intelligent man who I deeply respected; I spent awake overnights with him so his family could sleep while I helped him navigate the terror of his increasingly horrific hallucinations and paranoia. It was brutal to witness and broke my heart. If I were ever diagnosed myself I believe I would very seriously consider suicide before the disease progressed too far to have the capacity to choose.
I have such profound sympathy for Ted Turner and the decline he faces in the months and years to come.
