Glen Campbell, the American country pop singer, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. His wife Kim, said she wanted fans to be aware of his condition.
Campbell, 75, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's six months ago. His wife said, “Glen is still an awesome guitar player and singer," the musician's wife, Kim Campbell, told People magazine. "But if he flubs a lyric or gets confused onstage, I wouldn't want people to think, 'What's the matter with him? Is he drunk?”
Even though he said he's coming to terms with his disease, Campbell said he wanted to embark on one final tour for his fans, to say thanks. “I still love performing for my fans…I'd like to thank them for sticking with me through thick and thin,” he said.
Campbell's career spans five decades. He has released more than 70 albums, had 81 songs on the charts and has made his mark on music history with such hits as "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Galveston." Campbell goes on tour this fall to support what his website touts as his final studio album, called “Ghost on the Canvas”. The Grammy Award winner said he was suffering from short-term memory loss for years, prior to his diagnosis.
Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person's memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. People with dementia often have trouble thinking and speaking clearly, remembering recent events, and learning new things. Over time, it becomes hard for them to handle everyday activities and take care of themselves. There are many causes of dementia, but Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in older persons.
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