According to a statement from his daughters, “Dad is no longer able to participate in public life as he used to. “.
Zoologist Jack Hanna was diagnosed with dementia at age 74; experts believe he has Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older people, with many displaying symptoms as early as their middle 60s.
The heartbreaking news of Jack Hanna’s dementia was revealed by the naturalist’s family yesterday. Hanna, age 74, has Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive degenerative brain condition that slowly robs people of their memory and cognitive abilities, according to the National Institute on Aging.
According to the statement, his “health has deteriorated significantly” and “his condition has advanced more rapidly in the past few months than any of us could have anticipated. “Dad used to be able to participate in public life, where he was observed, investigated, and made fun of by people all over the world. Sadly, he is unable to do so anymore.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older people, with many exhibiting symptoms as early as their middle 60s. The NIA has estimated that as many as 5.5 million Americans aged 65 and older may have Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the NIA, memory problems are typically one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s, though signs may change depending on the disease’s stage.
Additionally, those who have the condition may have difficulty speaking clearly, have vision and spatial issues, suffer from impaired reasoning or judgment, repeatedly ask the same questions, frequently get lost, or struggle with simple daily tasks like driving a car or preparing food.
Douglas Scharre, M.D. , a neurologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, explains, “We like to diagnose people when they have moderate cognitive impairment; they can still carry out daily activities but are having some difficulty with memory or cognition. “.
In order to prevent the disease from getting worse, we can start treatment earlier. “.
According to Mary Catherine Lundquist, program coordinator at Care2Caregivers at the COPSA Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, if someone’s Alzheimer’s disease is progressing more quickly than anticipated, doctors will frequently perform testing to make sure they aren’t suffering from a different form of dementia, such as Lewy body dementia or frontotemporal dementia, which can be mistaken for Alzheimer’s.
A history of stroke, a head injury, or an underlying cancer are a few other medical conditions that can cause it to accelerate up.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio, where Hanna is still director emeritus, said in a statement that they were “saddened” to learn of her illness. Hanna worked there to advance international conservation initiatives and to educate people about wildlife until he retired last year.
The public is assured by his daughters that he still has a great sense of humor, but they have asked for privacy at this time. Yes, he still wears khakis at home. “.
