By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
LOS ANGELES — Award-winning actor and activist Danny Glover has revealed that he has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years, sharing his diagnosis publicly in hopes of raising awareness about the condition affecting millions of Americans.
The 79-year-old star, best known for his roles in Lethal Weapon and The Color Purple, discussed his journey during an emotional interview with NBC’s Lester Holt. Glover said the disease has gradually affected his memory, speech, and movement but remains determined to live with purpose.
“I could live with it, in a sense,” Glover said, acknowledging that life will continue to change as the disease progresses.
His daughter, Mandisa Glover, said the family first noticed subtle memory changes in 2022 before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2023.
Despite the diagnosis, Glover continues to spend time with family, advocate for social justice, and encourage others to seek early medical evaluation if memory problems arise.
Health experts say Alzheimer’s is more than normal aging. Unlike occasional forgetfulness, the progressive brain disease gradually damages memory, thinking, judgment, and the ability to perform everyday tasks. More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, with Black Americans facing nearly twice the risk of developing the disease compared with older White adults.
Medical professionals encourage families to watch for persistent memory loss, confusion, difficulty following conversations, personality changes, and poor judgment, noting that early diagnosis and treatment may help slow disease progression and improve quality of life.