SIR JACKIE STEWART has opened up on his wife’s battle with dementia.
The Formula One legend was rocked when his wife Helen Stewart was diagnosed with the disease in 2014.
Stewart, 86, won three F1 World Championships during his career in 1969, 1971 and 1973.
His first title came while he was driving for Matra International before his other two with the Tyrell Team.
But now long retired, it is his 64-year-old wife who takes much of his focus up.
The Brit revealed how his wife will still have moments of lucidity despite the disease.
Speaking to The Telegraph: “It’s such an emotional journey.
“Seeing someone you love and adore, somebody you courted for four years, to whom you have been married for over 60 years, stolen from you by degrees.”
Stewart also revealed how Helen has even had violent episodes with nurses.
The “abuse” occurs later in the day after her brain has fatigued – known as “sundowning”.
He added: “She is going through a bad time right now, particularly in the evenings. ‘I’ll say to her, ‘Darling, why did you do that to the nurse?’ ‘What nurse? What are you talking about?’
“She has no recollection of how she’s abused that nurse.”
Two specialised dementia nurses provide care to Helen with 24/7 attention.
Stewart and Helen met back in 1957 at a cafe in Helensburgh, though she can no longer remember their love story.
The former racer admitted that he is still shocked that a cure has not been developed for the disease.
He said: “Sometimes I can’t believe there isn’t a cure already.
“Unless something is done, one in three people born today will die with dementia.
“It is now the leading cause of death [in the UK].
“It is the cruellest disease. I mean it when I say this is the greatest challenge of my life.
“Formula One is very global. But it’s not as global as medicine.”
Stewart is doing what he can to help research as he launched a charity called Race Against Dementia in 2016.
He has also donated £20million to help fund research into finding a cure.
The “Flying Scot” also gave an update on his own health status as he described it as “okay”.
He suffered a stroke while in Jordan as he attended a royal wedding in 2023.
