Fiona Phillips' Husband Slams Alzheimer's Funding as Ageism

Martin Frizell, husband of TV personality Fiona Phillips, has voiced strong criticism regarding the perceived lack of government funding for Alzheimer's disease treatments, describing it as "ageism." Phillips, who revealed her early-onset dementia diagnosis in 2023 after experiencing symptoms such as brain fog and anxiety, has since authored a book on the subject. Frizell argued that Alzheimer's is not exclusively an affliction of the elderly, noting that thousands are diagnosed before the age of 65.

He further condemned Health Secretary Wes Streeting's decision to remove NHS targets for dementia diagnosis rates. Frizell pointed out that Alzheimer's is a leading cause of death in Britain, surpassing breast cancer and claiming more lives than Covid-19 during the pandemic. He contrasted this with the global effort to combat Covid-19, suggesting Alzheimer's is neglected compared to other major diseases like cancer.

Despite the Department of Health and Social Care stating it is "working hard" with "record funding" to slow dementia's progress, Frizell expressed skepticism. He recalled a 2015 government plan he considered advanced and lamented Britain's decline from a world leader in Alzheimer's research to one of Europe's lowest in diagnosis rates. Phillips, whose parents both died from Alzheimer's, continues to live with the condition.