Fiona Phillips's Alzheimer's Diagnosis and Family Impact

Fiona Phillips, former TV presenter, has been battling early-onset Alzheimer's since her diagnosis in 2022, as detailed in a new memoir by her husband, Martin Frizell. Martin stepped down from his role as editor of This Morning to care for her and recounted a distressing episode in which Fiona failed to recognize their eldest son, Nathaniel, mistaking him for an intruder. Fiona was also suffering from an undisclosed physical illness that is believed to have worsened her Alzheimer's symptoms, leaving her close to delirium at times. The couple initially withheld the diagnosis from their sons, Nathaniel and Mackenzie, fearing a hereditary risk due to Fiona's family history. Genetic testing later confirmed that although Fiona was predisposed, she had not directly inherited the gene for early-onset Alzheimer's, meaning her sons are not at risk. Both sons have provided significant support to Fiona during her illness.