Former Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow has revealed he is living with Alzheimer’s disease and has spoken publicly about his diagnosis for the first time.
Image: Jon Snow broadcasting for Channel 4 News
The broadcaster, 79, was diagnosed with the condition in 2023 and is sharing his experience in a new Channel 4 documentary, Jon Snow: A Last Big Story, which is set to air on Saturday 20 June.
Snow, who presented Channel 4 News between 1989 and 2021, said he decided to speak out to raise awareness of dementia, which affects around one million people in the UK. During an interview with the Daily Mail, he said: ‘If I don’t speak out, who will?’
The interview reveals that after retiring, Snow experienced a period of depression and became increasingly withdrawn. His wife, epidemiologist Dr Precious Lunga, said: ‘Friends kept asking me if Jon was alright and I would have to lie and say he’s fine, but I knew he wasn’t.’
Lunga also explained that Snow thought most of his friends had stopped contacting him, but he had forgotten about many of the calls he had received.
Following a cognitive assessment and brain scan, Snow was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Despite this, he said he sometimes questions whether he has the condition.
‘I mean sometimes I doubt whether I’ve really got it,’ Snow explained. ‘I don’t know if it’s widespread knowledge, I don’t feel disabled in any way.’
He isn’t alone in questioning whether his symptoms are simply part of getting older. According to Alzheimer’s Society, it is a common misconception that dementia is a normal part of ageing. Although memory lapses can become more common later in life, dementia is caused by diseases of the brain and can affect memory, communication, planning and behaviour.
In the documentary, which follows Snow as he comes out of retirement for one final investigation into the impact of a mining disaster on communities in Zambia, he reflects on the stigma surrounding dementia.
‘At the beginning I wanted to hide it, there’s so much prejudice,’ Snow said. ‘Any sort of hint of mental decay, you’re sort of dead. There are moments when it pops up but it’s not an all day every day condition, and that’s what I cling onto.’
The diagnosis carried particular significance for Snow, whose mother lived with Alzheimer’s disease for a decade before her death.
Lunga added: ‘Life doesn’t end with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but it changes dramatically. You can have Alzheimer’s and still be a valuable member of society but you need support to navigate it.’
After Snow revealed his condition, Alzheimer’s Society reported a 148% increase in views of its dementia symptoms checklist – a tool designed to help people identify potential signs of dementia and discuss any concerns with their GP. Traffic across the charity’s wider website also rose by 58%.
The charity additionally saw more than 5,000 people add their names to its open letter calling on the government to make dementia a national priority.
Jon Snow: A Last Big Story will be broadcast on Channel 4 at 20:00 BST on Saturday 20 June.
Images: Shutterstock
In related news:
‘He’s coming home’: For some, the World Cup brings fear not celebration
Leave a Reply