On the evening of the 24th at 8:30 PM, KBS2's 'Celebrity Soldier's Secret' delved deeply into the realities of dementia battled by globally influential celebrities such as Robin Williams, Bruce Willis, and Ronald Reagan.
The broadcast revealed that Robin Williams, beloved worldwide for his roles in 'Dead Poets Society' and 'Good Will Hunting,' suffered from severe anxiety and physical symptoms, enduring painful days.
Lee Chan-won shared a poignant anecdote about Robin Williams, who, fearing his deteriorating health might be schizophrenia or dementia, desperately wished to 'reboot his brain.'
The true cause of Robin Williams' death was only discovered three months posthumously, with an autopsy revealing severe brain damage so extensive that medical professionals described it as a miracle he could walk. Experts analyzed that his symptoms were early signs of a rare dementia that began in the gut and spread to the brain.
Action star Bruce Willis also faced criticism for his acting skills just before retirement, receiving a worst acting award, which was later revealed to be due to frontotemporal dementia.
The story of Bruce Willis relying on an earpiece to receive his lines during filming was shared, prompting Lee Chan-won to empathize deeply, recalling his own experience of holding a pen in his mouth to correct his accent.
Additionally, the story of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who, despite losing all memories due to Alzheimer's, retained his deep affection for his wife, moved the studio to tears.
Alzheimer's dementia scientist Muk In-hee discussed the similarities between Parkinson's disease and dementia, warning that rapid declines in language ability, memory, visual perception, and reality judgment can occur suddenly.
Experts emphasized that early signs of dementia can begin as early as in one's 40s, stressing the importance of early management, and provided detailed information on the latest treatments and preventive lifestyle habits.
Reporter Chaeryeong Lim, TenAsia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr