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'Her mind's vanishing'

F1 champ Sir Jackie Stewart confirms wife has dementia ahead of launching research charity

Racing legend recounts emotional moment he realised something was wrong

By Marc Deanie
3rd July 2016, 3:19 am

RACING legend Sir Jackie Stewart has revealed that his wife has dementia.

Former model Lady Helen, 75, was diagnosed two years ago and now has round-the-clock care.
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Sir Jackie Stewart reveals his wife, Lady Helen, is suffering with dementia and needs round-the-clock care

Sir Jackie, 77, said: “Her razor-sharp mind was one of the things I fell in love with, and it’s her mind that’s vanishing.”

The three-times F1 champ can pinpoint the time when he realised something was wrong.
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Former model, Lady Helen, has been married to Sir Jackie since 1962

He said: “It sounds silly but she put on the same watch every day, and all of a sudden she didn’t.

“When she went to check the time and the watch wasn’t there, she would think she’d lost it or that it had fallen off.”
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Three times F1 champ launched Race Against Dementia, a charity aiming to raise funds for research into the condition

Speaking as he launched new charity Race Against Dementia in central London, he added: “She wears a ­special bracelet. If there’s a problem, if she falls or something, she presses the bracelet and they’ll be there just like that.

“We’re very privileged we can afford to do this.”

The couple married in 1962 and have two children and nine grandkids.

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