Home Entertainment The Project star and ABC Radio host reveals devastating family loss

The Project star and ABC Radio host reveals devastating family loss

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The Project star Hamish Macdonald has revealed the heartbreaking loss of his 85-year-old father Iain after succumbing to Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.

The Project star Hamish Macdonald has revealed the heartbreaking loss of his 85-year-old father Iain.

The television personality, 43, took to LinkedIn on Friday to share the news, revealing that her father had succumbed to Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia on Sunday.

Sharing a photo of his father on the platform, Hamish wrote a heartfelt but “objective” tribute, as per his father’s wishes.

“Dad left instructions in his will that any funeral notice should be ‘concise, basic and free of subjective statements,'” he wrote.

‘He was 85 years old when he died on Sunday. A proud father and grandfather. He had been a rower, a skier and a pharmacist. “We will miss him very much.”

Hamish continued the tribute by saying his father’s end was “peaceful” despite the ravages of his condition.

‘Dad found the loss of independence that came with Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia really difficult, but in the end he felt calm, surrounded by his family.

She received exceptional care in the senior care system from caregivers, nurses and doctors who provided her with respect and dignity until the last moment. We thank you.

The Project star Hamish Macdonald has revealed the heartbreaking loss of his 85-year-old father Iain after succumbing to Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

He closed the tribute with an affectionate: “I love you Grumble Bum x.”

Several of Hamish’s broadcasting colleagues were quick to offer their condolences, including Channel 10 news presenter Sandra Sully.

‘A big hug to you, Hamish. “It’s very sad to lose a father,” Sandra wrote.

ABC stalwart Geraldine Doogue and co-host of ABC’s Global Roaming with Hamish podcast, also offered a kind word, writing: ‘Yes Hamish, peas in a pod indeed. You certainly supported him, in my opinion, in an exemplary way. Get along without it.

Sharing a photo of his father on Linkedin on Friday, Hamish wrote a heartfelt but

Sharing a photo of his father on Linkedin on Friday, Hamish wrote a heartfelt but “objective” tribute, as per his father’s wishes.

According Dementia AustraliaLewy body dementia is a general term that describes two forms of dementia: Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease dementia.

Lewy body dementia causes changes in the sufferer’s thinking, movement, behavior, and bodily functions.

A Lewy body is a small tangle of protein called alpha-synuclein inside brain cells. These tangled proteins cause damage that affects movement, thinking, and behavior.

'Dad left instructions in his will that any funeral notice must be

“Dad left instructions in his will that any funeral notice should be ‘concise, basic and free of subjective statements,'” she wrote.

In 2024, the former ABC quiz show host joined journalist Jim Rogers, who suffers from dementia, to host the Dementia Australia podcast. Hold the moment.

talking to Hello, be careful Speaking about the podcast, Hamish said he was amazed by the people he had met, who were living with dementia, through the project.

“As a journalist, I have met many people living with dementia, but this all hit close to home a few years ago when my father was diagnosed with dementia,” Hamish said.

‘The stories shared by all people living with dementia will help break down barriers that discourage people from seeking help and reduce the impact of social isolation.

“Receiving the news of a diagnosis is huge and at every step of this project I have been amazed by all the people living with dementia willing to share their often intensely personal experiences to help others.”

WHAT IS DEMENTIA WITH LEWY BODIES?

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the second most common form of degenerative dementia after Alzheimer’s.

It is the form that Robin Williams was diagnosed with before taking his life in 2014.

Unlike Alzheimer’s, LBD affects brain regions responsible for vision, as opposed to memory.

That means sufferers may start out with memory loss, but over time the most debilitating symptoms will be powerful hallucinations, nightmares, and problems with spatial awareness.

LBD is closely related to Parkinson’s disease, meaning that many patients will also develop the disease, as Robin Williams did.

SYMPTOMS:

The most common symptoms include:

  • Alteration in thinking, such as loss of executive function (planning, information processing), memory, or the ability to understand visual information.
  • Fluctuations in cognition, attention, or alertness;
  • Problems with movement, including tremors, stiffness, slowness, and difficulty walking.
  • Visual hallucinations (seeing things that are not present)
  • Sleep disorders, such as acting out dreams while sleeping.
  • Behavioral and mood symptoms, including depression, apathy, anxiety, agitation, delusions, or paranoia.
  • Changes in the body’s autonomic functions, such as blood pressure control, temperature regulation, and bladder and bowel function.

HOW TO START:

Many sufferers will first develop Parkinson’s disease and suffer physical disabilities before doctors diagnose their dementia. That’s what happened to the late, revered actor Robin Williams.

Some will begin with memory loss that could be confused with the more common Alzheimer’s disease. Over time, they will develop symptoms more clearly associated with LBD.

WHAT CAUSES IT:

The cause is not known. What we do know is that the risk increases with age.

At the cellular level, LBD is characterized by small groups of abnormal proteins produced by the brain when its cells do not function properly.

They cause memory problems, although they are not usually as serious as Alzheimer’s, which is related to the accumulation of the beta-amyloid protein.

Another key difference is that Lewy body dementia affects regions of the brain responsible for vision, causing powerful hallucinations, nightmares and problems with spatial awareness.

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