This Morning presenter Siân Welby confirmed her father is battling vascular dementia while hosting a segment about the degenerative disease during Tuesday's show.
Welby, who was praised for “bringing fun back to the struggling ITV flagship”, was on hand to discuss a revolutionary new blood test that can detect Alzheimer's disease in its early stages.
During her recent appearance alongside Dermot O'Leary, the 37-year-old presenter admitted that her father Ian, 84, is one of more than 900,000 people currently suffering from dementia in the UK.
Speaking about the incurable condition, she said: “It's one of the most devastating, my father suffers from it, he has vascular dementia.”
“You're afraid of losing someone you know, it's pretty scary!” As you say, would I want to take a test if I knew I might be susceptible to it?
This Morning presenter Siân Welby confirmed her father is battling vascular dementia while hosting a segment about the degenerative disease during Tuesday's show
In her latest stand-in appearance alongside Dermot O'Leary, the presenter admitted her father Ian, who is 84, is one of more than 900,000 people currently suffering from dementia
“That’s hard to know!” I don’t know if I want to know, is ignorance a blessing? But then again, if I could do something about it?'
Welby, who has previously spoken about her father's battle with cancer and COVID-19, was subsequently praised by viewers for her professionalism, with many taking to X, formerly Twitter, to express their views.
“Nice to see Siân on #thismorning. Very professional and dedicated,” wrote one impressed fan.
A second added: “Really enjoying the mix of @Sianwelby and @radioleary. They work well together. Congratulations to Sian, it must be nerve-racking presenting such a big morning show, she’s doing great.”
While a third urged ITV bosses to “sign Sian”. “Now we have found what we are looking for.”
Viewers were equally impressed with her debut on Monday alongside host Dermot O'Leary, saying she did a “great job” and “brought fun to the show”.
But behind the scenes of her personal life, Welby has had a tough few years – when her father was diagnosed with leukemia.
In 2022, she admitted that she was afraid for her elderly father after he contracted COVID-19 following his cancer diagnosis.
Ian's health deteriorated significantly after he suffered from sepsis and pneumonia in both lungs.
Welby was on hand to discuss a revolutionary new blood test that can detect early-stage Alzheimer's disease
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
Dementia is an umbrella term for a number of neurological diseases
A global concern
Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of progressive neurological disorders (affecting the brain) that affect memory, thinking and behavior.
There are many types of dementia, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common.
Some people may experience a combination of different forms of dementia.
Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person experiences dementia in their own unique way.
Dementia is a global problem, but is most common in wealthier countries where people are likely to live into old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer's Society reports that there are now more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK. This number is expected to increase to 1.6 million by 2040.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 percent of those diagnosed.
There are an estimated 5.5 million Alzheimer's patients in the United States. A similar percentage increase is expected in the coming years.
As you get older, the risk of developing dementia also increases.
Diagnosis rates are increasing, but it is believed that many people with dementia still go undiagnosed.
Is there a cure?
There is currently no cure for dementia.
But new medications can slow the progression, and the earlier it is detected, the more effective treatments can be.
Source: Alzheimer's Society
Welby, who has previously spoken about her father's battle with cancer and COVID-19, was praised for her professionalism by viewers of the show on Tuesday
They were equally impressed with her debut on Monday, with fans claiming she “brought fun to the show.”
During a seven-week hospital stay his weight dropped to 2.5 kilograms – Welby feared the worst.
As he showed signs of improvement, she shared sweet snaps with her dad on Instagram and wrote: “Doctors have said it's nothing short of a miracle.”
“My dad had leukemia and then got COVID, which led to sepsis and pneumonia in both lungs and got to the point where he couldn't eat, walk or talk.” He has spent the last seven weeks in the hospital and the possibility was there that he never came home.
“I posted the second photo on my Insta story last week after I was finally able to hug him and was flooded with positive messages from all of you.”
“I just want to thank you for all your kind words. There was so much positivity sent his way and literally the day after I got a text from my mom telling me he was up. It's incredible.'
She added: “I believe in the power of positive thoughts and I seriously feel like the luckiest girl in the world.” I'm back home and my dad is out of hospital!! He is recovering incredibly, the doctors can't believe it!!
In 2022, she admitted that she was afraid for her elderly father after he contracted COVID-19 following his cancer diagnosis
As he got better, Welby shared sweet snaps with her dad on Instagram and wrote: “Doctors said it was nothing short of a miracle.”
“What a great day… I showed him all your messages and he got a tear in his eye – he asked me to print them all out so he can read them again when I'm not here.”
“I just want to add, if you're going through something similar, I'm really sending you all the love in the world.” Even if you feel completely helpless.
“Tell them you love them, hold their hand and hug them if you can.” Be that positive voice that keeps telling them to fight, and when they can't fight anymore, just tell them happy ones Stories from their past.”
Welby admitted her father couldn't believe public figures including Spice Girl Emma Bunton and presenter Amanda Holden were sending him congratulations.
Speaking to The Sun, she explained: “A week after that hugging post and after 37,000 people liking and commenting on my story, I truly believe in the power of positivity.”
“He couldn’t believe Emma Bunton and Amanda Holden sent him a message telling him to get well soon!”
“He asked me to print out all the DMs so he could look at them when I wasn’t there!”
Welby co-hosts This Morning with Dermot O'Leary as ITV continues to search for a replacement for Holly Willoughby
Welby is temporarily co-hosting This Morning alongside Dermot as ITV continues to search for a replacement for Holly Willoughby.
Viewers were impressed with her debut as she took the helm on Monday, saying she did a “great job” and “brought fun to the show”.
She is best known for her work on Capital Breakfast, where she appears alongside Roman Kemp and Chris Stark every weekday between 6am and 10am.
Before Capital, she had her own Heart FM evening show and her own Heart FM Sunday morning show.
Her presenting debut on This Morning is not her first appearance on the show, as she also regularly hosts showbiz segments on Sian's Shack.
The star's other TV credits include presenting weather on Channel 5 and appearing on CBBC's Saturday Mash Up alongside Sonny Jay.
Welby's role on This Morning comes three months after Willoughby quit after 14 years at the helm of This Morning after an alleged kidnap plot was uncovered.
Sian has been paired with Dermot to host Monday to Thursday next week as they continue to search for a replacement for Holly Willoughby (pictured in September).
Former security guard Gavin Plumb was also charged with conspiring to murder her. Since then, ITV bosses have been looking for a replacement for her.
They were “disappointed” last month when Cat Deeley pulled out of the role after signing for US talent show So You Think You Can Dance.
The Chiefs also had their eye on The Voice host Emma Willis, but she is said to have turned down the job as she cannot commit to three days.
Christine Lampard is also said to have no desire to work four days a week.