Understanding a dementia diagnosis in the wake of Jack Hanna’s family announcement
In an open letter from his family, they say Jack Hanna was diagnosed with dementia and it’s now believed to be Alzheimer’s Disease. Author: Lindsey Mills Updated: 11:12 PM EDT April 7, 2021
COLUMBUS, Ohio Alzheimer s Disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and there is no cure, according to the Alzheimer s Association of Central Ohio.
It is a devastating diagnosis for anyone to receive – and for their caregivers.
And it’s one that the family of Jack Hanna now knows all too well. On Wednesday, his family revealed in an open letter to the community that Hanna was diagnosed with dementia and it’s now believed to be Alzheimer’s Disease.
The Zoo Is Our Life : Jack Hanna s Family Reveals Dementia Diagnosis, Retirement From Public Eye By Lydia Taylor Ohio UPDATED 5:35 PM ET Apr. 07, 2021 PUBLISHED 1:24 PM ET Apr. 07, 2021 PUBLISHED 1:24 PM EDT Apr. 07, 2021
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OHIO Well-renowned animal expert and advocate Jack Hanna, 74, has been diagnosed with dementia, his family revealed in a letter Wednesday, and will be stepping back from public life.
What You Need To Know
Jack Hanna, more commonly known as Jungle Jack, has dementia, his family revealed Wednesday
In a letter written by his three daughters, they said Hanna will be taking a step back from public appearances
Hanna has worked at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for more than 40 years, first serving as executive director and then moving into the spokesperson role
from the disease. Her mother was
as a quadriplegic who could no longer speak. Eventually, the disease shuts the body down as organs fail and for this reason, Alzheimer s is called the long goodbye, Moorehead said. I got to the point where when my mom couldn t talk anymore to tell me what itched, what hurt or if she was cold, she said.
progressively impacts memory, thinking and behavior with symptoms such as aggression, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, paranoia, memory loss and hallucinations, according to the Alzheimer s Association.
The disease can be devastating for families, and the hurdles are made more difficult in isolated communities. Moorhead and her family are from Cambridge a city of about 10,000 people tucked in the Appalachian mountains of southeastern Ohio. Her neighbors are predominantly Scottish-Irish, she said.