ITV icon Alastair Stewart says he 'can't tie his shoelaces' in dementia update

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Retired broadcaster Alastair Stewart has opened up about his life with dementia, explaining that one part is especially 'demeaning and soul destroying'.

The 72-year-old, who's among Britain's longest serving newsreaders, was diagnosed with a 'vascular' form of the cognitive condition two years ago, triggered by a lack of blood flow to the brain.For Alastair, this has led to various unexpected daily challenges, including spatial awareness and memory issues.

The former ITV and GB News journalist has even found tying shoelaces a struggle, but it is the changing relationship with his wife that has been most difficult."It is demeaning and soul destroying, and she comes to it from a position of enormous calibre and talent," Alastair said in an interview with The Telegraph. "I hate reducing her role in life to being my carer."Alastair met his wife, Sally, almost 50 years ago at a Southampton-based TV centre where she worked as a production assistant.

Initially finding him 'cocky' and 'not particularly nice', Sally's opinion changed after a Christmas party, and they have been together ever since.Without her now, Alastair admitted that he'd be 'finished' as she helps him get dressed, travel and arranges others to check on him when she isn't around.