The Carter Center announced on Tuesday that former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter, has been diagnosed with dementia. In a statement, the Carter family disclosed that Mrs. Carter, 95, is living happily at home with her husband in Plains, Georgia, enjoying the spring season and visits from friends and family. The Center refrained from providing additional details and did not anticipate further comments on the matter.
FILE - The former first lady Rosalynn Carter speaks to the press at conference at The Carter Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, in Atlanta. On Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, Carter, the second-oldest U.S. first lady ever, turns 95. (AP Photo/Ron Harris, File)
The disclosure of Mrs. Carter’s diagnosis aims to “increase important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctor’s offices around the country.” As First Lady, she was a strong advocate for mental health, establishing a presidential commission on the issue during her tenure in the White House. Her legacy in mental health advocacy continues to this day.
President Jimmy Carter, 98, began home hospice care in February following several brief hospital stays. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre revealed that the Bidens have maintained contact with the former president’s team, ensuring that the Carters know they are in the current president and first lady’s thoughts.
A recent event in Norcross, Georgia, paid tribute to former President Carter. Andrew Young, his former UN ambassador, described Mr. Carter as being in good spirits during a visit last month. Speaking at the event, the Carters’ grandson, Jason Carter, said, “They’re coming to the end… they’ve been together for 70-plus years.”
Throughout her time as First Lady, Rosalynn Carter traveled extensively in the United States and abroad, working tirelessly to break mental health stigmas. In his 2010 book “White House Diary,” President Carter commended his wife’s leadership in mental health advocacy, highlighting her efforts to reduce stigma associated with mental illness and to prioritize mental health on the agendas of the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control.
The CDC defines dementia as a general term encompassing impaired memory, thinking, and decision-making abilities. It affects memory, attention, communication, judgment, problem-solving, and visual perception beyond standard age-related changes. While not a normal part of aging, the National Institute on Aging reports that approximately one-third of all individuals aged 85 and older may have some form of dementia.
This story was originally published by CNN.
