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Former Channel 4 News presenter reveals Alzheimer's diagnosis
Jon Snow, who anchored Channel 4 News for 32 years, disclosed that he received an Alzheimer's diagnosis in 2023. A documentary showing how he and his wife are managing the condition will premiere next week.
Jun 5, 1:10 PM·1m read1 source
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Jon Snow, who presented Channel 4 News from 1989 to 2021, has publicly stated that he has Alzheimer's disease. The 78-year-old journalist and his wife Precious Lunga appear in a new film that follows their experience with the diagnosis. Snow said he initially wanted to keep the information private because of prejudice against signs of mental decline.
He added that the condition is not constant and that he sometimes questions whether he has received the correct diagnosis.
Background on diagnosis Snow first consulted a specialist in 2023 after his wife encouraged him to seek medical advice. He scored 29 out of 30 on an initial cognitive test, but a later brain scan led to the Alzheimer's diagnosis.
A Last Big Story records Snow reporting on an environmental issue in Zambia and will premiere at the Sheffield Documentary Festival. It is scheduled to air on Channel 4 on 20 June. Channel 4's head of news Louisa Compton said Snow remains one of the channel's most recognizable figures and that the documentary aims to show how people can continue working after such a diagnosis.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called Snow a leading figure in journalism whose decision to speak publicly may help others facing similar situations. Michelle Dyson, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, described the decision as an act of courage that highlights the need for improved access to diagnosis.
