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Robbie Williams has shared a heartbreaking update on his mother Janet’s current health amid her battle with dementia.
The 51-year-old Take That icon, who revealed she was diagnosed with the disease in November 2024, spoke candidly about her health woes during a recent concert while on tour in Germany.
Speaking about her battle with dementia, Robbie explained that she no longer knows who he is as he heartbreakingly admitted he ‘isn’t ready for it’.
Robbie also discussed his father Pete’s battle with Parkinson’s and shared he can no longer leave the house.
As per The Sun, Robbie said: ‘My mother has dementia and she doesn’t know who I am anymore. She doesn’t know where she is anymore. My dad has Parkinson’s and he can’t leave the house.
‘He used to sing with me every night on stage, he would come out, steal the show and be charming and then wander backstage for a glass of red wine. Now he can’t leave the house.
Robbie Williams, 51, has shared a heartbreaking update on his mother Janet’s current health amid her battle with dementia (pictured in February)
The Take That icon, who revealed she was diagnosed with the disease in November 2024, spoke candidly about her health woes during a recent concert while on tour in Germany
‘My mother-in-law, who I absolutely worship and adore, has three illnesses. She’s for lupus, Parkinson’s and cancer. She is the most courageous lady and she is fighting, fighting, fighting.’
Speaking about how things have got more real, Robbie confessed ‘It’s a strange place to be’ before admitting ‘I’m not ready for it’.
Towards the end of last year, Robbie told The Mirror that he ‘didn’t know’ how to cope with the ‘incredibly complicated’ situation.
‘The truth is that I’m very busy and I’m not dealing with the situation as I should.
‘I don’t really know how to do it, it’s an incredibly complicated thing’.
He continued: ‘But I prefer not to go into details, You know, if I say something, they might read it, and then I would have to answer a lot of questions’.
‘Let’s put it this way: we are all human beings, with our difficulties, and I am trying to deal with mine’.
Robbie first spoke about his mother’s diagnosis after revealing how his biopic Better Man depicts his loving relationship with his late grandmother who has dementia in the film.
Towards the end of last year, Robbie told The Mirror that he ‘didn’t know’ how to cope with the ‘incredibly complicated’ situation (pictured with his mum in 1998)
Robbie poses with his divorced parents Pete and Janet after his gig in Las Vegas
Robbie and his wife Ayda have a lot to contend with as Ayda also recently revealed that her mother Gwen’s cervical cancer has returned (pictured in 2019)
When asked about his parents thoughts on the film, Robbie told HELLO! ‘My mum’s currently got dementia – like my nan in the film – and my dad’s got Parkinsons and can’t get out of bed. So I’m in a different part of my life right now.’
Back in 2020 Robbie revealed his father Pete had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, admitting at the time that he was fighting ‘fear and panic’ over his father’s diagnosis.
He told The Mirror that receiving the diagnosis during Covid made things extra difficult as he and his wife Ayda and their children were self-isolating thousands of miles away from his parents in Los Angeles.
Robbie’s parents split in 1977. The pair also share daughter Sally, who is 11 years Robbie’s senior.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological disorders
A GLOBAL CONCERN
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) which impact memory, thinking and behaviour.
There are many types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people may have a combination of different types of dementia.
Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person will experience dementia in their own unique way.
Dementia is a global concern but it is most often seen in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live into very old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer’s Society reports there are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. This is projected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 per cent of those diagnosed.
In the US, it’s estimated there are 5.5 million Alzheimer’s sufferers. A similar percentage rise is expected in the coming years.
As a person’s age increases, so does the risk of them developing dementia.
Rates of diagnosis are improving but many people with dementia are thought to still be undiagnosed.
IS THERE A CURE?
Currently there is no cure for dementia.
But new drugs can slow down its progression and the earlier it is spotted, the more effective treatments can be.
Source: Alzheimer’s Society
