Ruth Langsford has candidly opened up about her fears of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a condition that has deeply affected her family. 

The Loose Women presenter, 63, has been grappling with the emotional toll of watching both of her parents battle dementia. 

Her father, Dennis, passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2012, while her mother, Joan, now resides in a care home after being diagnosed with the same illness.

In a recent interview with Woman & Home magazine, Ruth shared the personal connection she has to Alzheimer’s, explaining the significant impact it has had on her life. 

“I’m a bit head in the sand about Alzheimer’s,” she admitted. “Both my parents have had it, I know what it entails, and it horrifies me.” 

Despite this, Ruth revealed that she has made the decision not to take a predictive test for Alzheimer’s, 

as the prospect of not being able to prevent the disease makes her reluctant to know whether she is at risk.

Ruth’s parents’ battle with dementia began in the 1990s, when her father started showing signs of the disease. He was cared for at home by her mother until his passing at 84. Years later, Ruth’s mother, Joan, also developed dementia, which led to her current stay in a care facility. The emotional strain of watching her parents deteriorate from the condition has left Ruth with a deep-seated fear of facing the same fate.

Despite her family history, Ruth has decided against undergoing testing that would predict her likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s, explaining her rationale. “There’s a test you can do to know if you are more likely to get it, but because there’s no medication to treat it, I’d rather not know,” Ruth explained. She also admitted that when she experiences common memory lapses, such as misplacing her glasses or forgetting someone’s name, it often triggers panic. “When I have senior moments, as people call them, I panic,” she said, illustrating the anxiety these moments cause her.

Ruth acknowledged that these occasional lapses, which many people experience as part of the natural aging process, often lead to her worrying about her future health. “Every time I go, ‘Where are my glasses?’ and they’re on my head, or ‘Where are my keys?’ I have those blank moments where you suddenly forget someone’s name, somebody you know really well,” Ruth confessed. “You think, ‘Oh my God.’ So, of course, I worry, with both parents. But I try not to think about it too much because it’s too depressing.”

Despite the anxiety she feels about the future, Ruth remains committed to living life to the fullest and staying positive. She shared that she tries not to dwell too much on the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s, opting instead to focus on enjoying the present. “Live your life, have a glass of wine, see your friends, have some fun because none of us know what the future holds,” Ruth said. Her words reflect a balanced approach to life, emphasizing the importance of cherishing the present while acknowledging the uncertainties of the future.

Ruth also mentioned her desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle without obsessing over perfection. “My life is about finding balance. I want to eat as well as I can, but I don’t want to be a bore,” she explained. “I can’t bear being out for dinner with people who go, ‘Is there butter in that?’ I think, ‘Just eat a chip or go home!'” This lighthearted comment shows Ruth’s focus on enjoying life and not getting bogged down by overthinking the small details.

Previously, Ruth discussed her concerns about Alzheimer’s on the How To Be 60 podcast, where she reiterated her reluctance to take the predictive test. “Whenever they say that you can do a test to see if you would be prone to getting Alzheimer’s, I don’t really want to do it because there’s no cure at the moment,” she shared. “If I could do that test and they said, ‘Right, now you know, this is what you do to stop you getting it,’ I’d do it. But there’s nobody who can tell you that, so I almost don’t want to know.”

By sharing her personal fears, Ruth hopes to raise awareness about dementia and its impact on families. Her honesty and vulnerability shed light on the emotional strain of caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s, while also encouraging others to appreciate the present and enjoy life to the fullest. Ruth’s story serves as a reminder that while we cannot control the future, we can choose to live with gratitude and balance in the here and now.

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