“Life is a gift — even with Alzheimer’s,” the singer tweeted on Monday morning. “Thank you to Susan and my family for their support.”
Veteran singer Tony Bennett has been battling Alzheimer’s disease for five years, his family recently revealed to the American Assn. of Retired Persons. In an interview for AARP’s magazine published Monday, Bennett’s doctor and loved ones disclosed details of his condition and symptoms, which include some memory loss, confusion and unresponsiveness. The 94-year-old crooner was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016 and proceeded to perform 90-minute sets on tour flawlessly shortly thereafter. “Singing is everything to him,” Bennett’s wife, Susan Benedetto, told the AARP. “Everything. It has saved his life many times. Many times. Through divorces and things. If he ever stops singing, that’s when we’ll know.” Unlike some Alzheimer’s patients, Bennett can still recognize friends and family members, does not wander from home and has not demonstrated signs of terror, rage or depression often prompted by the debilitating disease. He struggles to identify everyday objects, however, and when recording his upcoming album with Lady Gaga from 2018 to 2020, he had lost his vigor and awareness in the studio.
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| Tony Bennett and wife Susan |
