Fiona Phillips and Husband Fear Sons May Inherit Alzheimer’s After Her Diagnosis

Fiona Phillips and her husband Martin Frizell has detailed the worrying time they feared their sons Nathaniel, 26, and Mackenzie, 23, could inherit Alzheimer’s.

The former GMTV host, 64, was diagnosed with the progressive brain disorder in 2022 at the age of just 61.

When Fiona and Martin, 66, first learned of her diagnosis, they were concerned if the disease was genetic and would strike their sons.

After a genetic test, Fiona and Martin were relieved to discover their boys weren’t in danger of inheriting the disease. 

In the Mail’s exclusive extract from her upcoming memoir Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer’s, Martin shared: ‘We did tackle one fear and talked to Fiona’s consultant about whether she had inherited the illness from her parents.

‘She then had a genetic test, because if she carried the gene for Alzheimer’s there was a danger the boys would have it, too, which in turn might mean them thinking about IVF if they wanted children, in order to break the genetic line. 

Fiona Phillips, 64, and her husband Martin Frizell, 66, has detailed the worrying time they feared their sons Nathaniel, 26, and Mackenzie, 23, could inherit Alzheimer’s (pictured in May this year)

When Fiona and Martin first learned of her diagnosis in 2022 at the age of 61, they were concerned if the disease was genetic and would strike their sons (pictured in 2016)

‘Thankfully, the test was negative.’

He added: ‘That meant she didn’t carry the gene so the boys wouldn’t either. But the doctor said she was clearly predisposed to Alzheimer’s.

‘I didn’t entirely understand what he meant. How could someone be ‘predisposed’ to a particular disease if there wasn’t something in their genetic make-up that determined it?

‘But he assured me this was the case. While Fiona’s chances of getting the disease had always been a lot higher, that didn’t mean she would pass it on to her children.

‘A few months later we told the boys what was happening. By then, she was even more withdrawn and forgetful and they knew she’d had a series of hospital appointments.

‘Rather than the terrible news landing on them like a bomb, I’d gradually shared with them the sense that something was very wrong.

‘When the moment came and I used the dreaded ‘Alzheimer’s’ word, I think they were prepared for it – however awful that news was.

‘They were just heartbroken for their mum, though she didn’t want to make a big fuss about it all. 

After a genetic test, Fiona and Martin were relieved to discover their boys weren’t in danger of inheriting the disease (pictured together in 2001)

‘She was able to dismiss it from her mind and so the conversation quickly moved on. It may sound strange, but that is how it was.’

Elsewhere in the memoir, Martin gave a heartbreaking confession on his wife’s condition.

Martin emotionally admitted the family are ‘slowing saying goodbye to the woman they love’, who soon will be ‘wiped away’ by the disease.

Martin explained how he and their sons are ‘enduring a living grief’ as they watch the ‘glittering star’ deteriorate through time.

‘Bit by bit, it [Alzheimer’s] takes everything. Through time, even the most glamorous, glittering star – such as Fiona was – will be wiped away’, he wrote. 

He added: ‘Sorting the bank accounts, utility direct debits, hospital appointments, clothes, washing, parking permits, shopping, cooking, tidying the house – in fact, all the stuff I took for granted because Fiona dealt with it (as well as her own career) – became my responsibilities, along with a seven-day-a-week job. 

‘It was knackering. There were times I felt drained, physically and emotionally. 

‘On top of the stress, the boys and I are enduring a kind of living grief – a slow goodbye to the woman we love.’

Elsewhere in the Mail’s exclusive extract from her memoir, Martin admitted the family are ‘slowing saying goodbye to the woman they love’, who will be ‘wiped away’ by the disease (pictured in 2013)

In the memoir, the pair – who wed in 1997 and share two children – revealed their marriage was ‘falling apart’ as a result of Fiona’s then undiagnosed battle with the disease. 

Fiona explained: ‘My marriage was coming under increasing strain.

‘I’m sure the disease was at least partly responsible, but at the time neither of us could see it. I just became more and more disconnected from Martin and the boys.

‘”You’ve totally zoned out of our family and our marriage,” he would say to me. “Don’t be so bloody ridiculous!” I’d yell back.

‘But, if I’m honest, I think he was right. I just didn’t seem to have the energy for any of it any more.

‘I didn’t realise quite how seriously Martin felt about it all until one evening he announced he was moving out.

‘”Stop being so ridiculous!'” I yelled. “I’m just worn out. I’m tired – of everything.”

‘”That’s what you’ve been saying for years,'” he replied. “Maybe this – our marriage – is what’s making you so tired.”‘

Martin explained how he and their two sons are ‘enduring a living grief’ as they watch the ‘glittering star’ deteriorate through time 

‘Bit by bit, it [Alzheimer’s] takes everything. Through time, even the most glamorous, glittering star – such as Fiona was – will be wiped away’, he wrote (pictured at Derek Draper’s funeral last year)

Fiona first met Martin when she was working on GMTV as a presenter and he was its chief correspondent.

He later popped the question after they had been dating for just four weeks, before they went to Las Vegas to tie the knot in 1997.

Last year, he revealed he was stepping down as editor of ITV’s This Morning after 10 years in charge, in order to be ‘around much more’ for his wife during her Alzheimer’s battle.

Having turned his back on his prolific job, in his own candid words, Martin revealed Fiona now needs ‘a lot of help’, with his care extending to showering Fiona, brushing her teeth, dressing her and ultimately ‘making her feel as safe as possible’. 

He explained: ‘It is January 2025 as I write this, and Fiona needs a lot of help. She needs help showering and brushing her teeth. She can do these things physically, but is unable now to think about how she should do them…

‘I wash Fiona’s hair because she wouldn’t know what shampoo or conditioner to use or how wet her hair needs to be or that she must rinse the soap suds out afterwards…

‘And most nights I’ll say, ‘Right, we need to brush our teeth before we go to bed,’ and I’ll put the toothpaste on the brush and hand it to her…

She is still very stubborn and doesn’t like brushing her teeth or feeling that she is being told what to do, so she rails against it.’

He detailed how he knows he cannot fight her protestations for fear of illness, saying: ‘But this has to be the way, because the worst thing that could happen would be for her to get some kind of tooth infection when she is vulnerable.’

While Fiona can put her clothes on, she does not do so correctly – meaning Martin must also assist with this task among others. 

He writes: ‘She can put clothes on, but may not put them on the right way around, so she does need help dressing….

‘I try to lay out clothes for her to put on in the morning, but she tends to get attached to particular items of clothing and will wear them over and over again.’

Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer’s, by Fiona Phillips will be published on July 17.