Danny Glover Has Alzheimer’s Disease

Danny Glover went on the Today show to discuss his diagnoses with Alzheimer’s disease. Glover and his family spoke to Lester Holt, sharing that the actor had been diagnosed a few years ago. “I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing,” Glover said. Glover is now working with the Alzheimer’ss Association to spread awareness of early detection and the lifestyle changes that can help delay progress of the disease.

Glover said his movement, speech, and memories have all been affected, but that he is still an active member of his community in San Francisco. “I could live with it, in a sense,” he said. His daughter, Mandisa Glover explained why he’s sharing his diagnosis now. “I think it’s really important for him to have control of his own narrative, of his own life story,” she said. “That’s really important. And the time is now. What better time but now for him to speak for himself?” 

Glover is taking steps to maintain his activism while experiencing Alzheimer’s symptoms. He told Holt that he began acting because revolutionary playwright Amiri Baraka challenged him to. “Justice is our collective responsibility,” he said. “One thing I learned from my parents most of my life is the capacity of people to change through their own. They become the architect of their change.”