EastEnders star Dame Barbara Windsor was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2014
Former EastEnders actress Dame Barbara Windsor has been living with Alzheimer's disease since April 2014, her husband has confirmed.
Barbara's 55-year-old husband Scott Mitchell confirmed the news to The Sun, admitting her symptoms have worsened since her 80th birthday in August last year. He revealed how a 'definite continual confusion' has set in, making Barbara's symptoms a lot harder to hide.
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EastEnders fans, youu2019ll LOVE these amazing throwback snaps from the stars of the soap
1 of 13Jessie Wallace / Kat Moon's throwback photo
JESSIE WALLACE - AKA KAT MOON
2 of 13Jacqueline Jossa / Lauren Branning's throwback photo
LAUREN BRANNING - AKA JACQUELINE JOSSA
3 of 13Richard Blackwood / Vincent Hubbard's throwback
RICHARD BLACKWOOD - VINCENT HUBBARD
4 of 13James Bye / Martin Fowler's throwback
JAMES BYE - AKA MARTIN FOWLER
5 of 13Shona McGarty / Whitney Dean's throwback
SHONA MCGARTY - AKA WHITNEY DEAN
6 of 13Matt Di Angelo / Dean Wicks's throwback
MATT DI ANGEO - DEAN WICKS
7 of 13Jamie Borthwick / Jay Brown's throwback
JAMIE BORTHWICK - AKA JAY BROWN
8 of 13Maddy Hill / Nancy Carter's throwback
MADDY HILL - AKA NANCY CARTER
9 of 13natalie Cassidy & Patsy Palmer / Sonia Fowler and Bianca Butcher's throwback
NATALIE CASSIDY & PATSY PALMER - SONIA FOWLER & BIANCA BUTCHER
10 of 13Rita Simon & Samantha Womack / Roxy and Ronnie Mitchell's throwback
RITA SIMONS & SAMANTHA WOMACK - AKA ROXY AND RONNIE MITCHELL
11 of 13Harry Reid / Ben Mitchell's throwback
HARRY REID - AKA BEN MITCHELL
12 of 13Danniella Westbrook / Sam Mitchell's throwback
SAM MITCHELL - DANNIELLA WESTBROOK
13 of 13Adam Woodyatt
IAN BEALE - ADAM WOODYATT
Scott, who has been married to Barbara since 2000, revealed he wanted to make Barbara's illness public to help other families dealing with the same situation. The 55-year-old also confirmed that his wife, who played the role of Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, gave him her blessing to tell her adoring fans about her diagnosis.
Since Scott confirmed the news, fans and friends of Barbara have been quick to show their support to the legendary actress on social media.
Barbara's husband Scott revealed her symptoms first started in 2009, with the actress struggling to learn her lines for EastEnders.
Despite this, the couple thought nothing of it until early 2012 when she started repeating sentences. After a number of tests and scans, Barbara was then diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014.
Barbara first started her acting career when she was just 13-years-old, playing a part in The Belles of St Trinian's in 1954.
She later went on to star in a number of famous Carry On films, before landing a role as the infamous Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders in 1994. In 2009 Barbara announced she'd be leaving the soap to spend more valuable time with her husband Scott.
Just a few years later, Barbara returned to the soap for one episode which aired in September 2014. She then featured in the 30th anniversary show in February 2015. Barbara's last appearance playing the role of Peggy Mitchell then came in May 2016.
The Alzheimer's Society has said that Alzheimer's disease is "the most common cause of dementia. The word dementia describes a set of symptoms that can include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language."
Over 850,000 people in the UK are living with dementia, with the numbers expected to rise to over 1 million by 2025.
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