Danny Glover says he is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia

By Frederick H. Lowe

Actor Danny Glover said that he is suffering from Alzheimer’s, a disease that affects twice as many Blacks as Whites. But many Blacks believe that getting older causes forgetfulness and memory loss, not a disease like Alzheimer’s, which accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia-related cases.

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that 21.3% of Black Americans aged 70 and older are living with Alzheimer’s.

In the U.S., Alzheimer’s is the fourth leading cause of death among older Black adults, according to blackdoctor.com, a website.

Glover shared his diagnosis with NBC correspondent Lester Holt during a conversation on the “Today” show that aired Wednesday, July 1. He said he has been living with the disease for several years and that it has slowed his speech, movement, and memory. Glover sat down with NBC’s Lester Holt at his home for the interview.

“I could live with it, in a sense,” Glover said, but added that as the disease progresses, “things are going to be different and changing.”

Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, is a progressive brain disorder that “begins with mild memory loss and can lead to the inability to carry on a conversation, carry out daily activities, or respond to the environment,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

There are other forms of dementia. Some are: Parkinson’s Disease Dementia, Dementia with Lewy bodies, Vascular Dementia, and Huntington’s Disease Dementia.

The disease occurs in stages according to the Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease Statistics and Facts data.

Stage 1: No dementia seen

This early stage is still free from noticeable dementia symptoms. However, dementia may have already started years before.

Stage 2: Subjective memory problems, oftentimes seen as normal, age-related forgetfulness

Some memory loss is present. However, the person often associates it with the normal aging process. They don’t usually see it as one of the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Stage 3: Mild cognitive impairment

The person now has some problems with focus, concentration, and memory. Their comprehension skills may also show some impairment.

The warning signs of the disease are now more noticeable to others as well.

Stage 4: Moderate cognitive impairment (mild dementia)

The cognitive decline is now much more noticeable and starts to affect day-to-day life. Dementia symptoms also become more pronounced.

Stage 5: Moderately severe cognitive impairment (moderate dementia)

The person now needs assistance as they are unable to live independently. They also start having problems recalling familiar information. These include the names and their relationships with other people.

Stage 6: Severe cognitive impairment (moderately severe dementia)

In a special report, “Race, Ethnicity, and Alzheimer’s in America,” published by the Alzheimer’s Association, Black Americans don’t trust the medical community and doubt that advances in Alzheimer’s treatments will be shared.

Medical research is biased against people of color, and Black Americans are less interested in participating in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s than all other groups surveyed, although they are being encouraged to do so.

A misdiagnosis by doctors, or is it on purpose:

Black Americans are less likely to be correctly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, partly due to systemic bias in healthcare. 

Many report discrimination in care, with half experiencing it while seeking treatment for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Barriers include a lack of culturally competent providers, distrust in medical systems, and lower rates of seeking help for memory concerns.

Only half of Black Americans (53%) trust that a future cure for Alzheimer’s will be shared equally regardless of race, color, or ethnicity.

But the medical community still has to overcome major obstacles to address Alzheimer’s among older Blacks. In some cases, Blacks believe loss of memory or forgetting is part of getting older, not a disease.

Only 35% of Black Americans say that they are concerned about Alzheimer’s or dementia. Some 65% of Black Americans say that they know somebody with Alzheimer’s or dementia, according to the study.

Glover’s daughter was the first to notice changes in her dad

His daughter, Mandisa, 50, first began noticing changes in her father’s behavior in 2022. The same year, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar.

“The history of my dad is that he remembers every single thing back to 1970,” Mandisa explained to the magazine. She added, “He’d tell you so much about his ­parents — and I’ve heard those stories over and over — and there would be pieces of the story missing. I said, ‘I wonder what’s going on.’” 

The news of Glover’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis sent shock waves across the internet as fans sent him well wishes.

Some of Glover’s many movies include: The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon, America’s Dream and To Sleep with Anger”