On July 1, Today aired an exclusive interview with Hollywood legend Danny Glover, where the star opened up about his unfortunate Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis with anchor Lester Holt. Between TV and film, Glover has appeared in almost 200 projects, with an onscreen career spanning almost 50 years. While he had standout roles in projects like The Color Purple, Freedom Song, and Gone Fishin’, for most people, he will forever be Roger Murtaugh from the iconic Lethal Weapon franchise.
During the segment, 79-year-old Glover appeared understandably a bit more measured than in years past, but was still willing to crack a joke when necessary (e.g., joking about why he finally received an Oscar in 2022). Coincidentally, it was not long after receiving the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Oscar in 2022 that Glover and his family received the Alzheimer’s news. They waited until now to share the diagnosis with the world as they wanted time to prepare for Glover to share his story when ready, and are now hoping that by opening up, he helps to remove stigmas attached to the illness.
With all that being said, Glover’s forthcoming honesty has already highlighted an alarming statistic when it comes to Alzheimer’s Disease. One that a particular segment of the male population should be aware of.
‘Today’ Claims Black Men Are Suffering Nearly Double National Average

Per the Today interview, over 7 million people in America over the age of 65 are living with Alzheimer’s. What’s even more alarming than that is the fact that Black men are “suffering double the national average.” Unpacking this further, the Alzheimer’s Association claims:
“While older Black Americans are twice as likely as older Whites to have Alzheimer’s or another dementia, research hasn’t yet identified the cause. Higher rates of cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels) disease may play a role. Some studies indicate that after correcting for overall health and socioeconomic status, these differences disappear.”
Ways to Fight Back Against Alzheimer’s
Again, going back to the Today interview, Glover shared that he’s now working with The Alzheimer’s Association. The organization suggests that “simple actions like staying physically active, managing blood pressure and diabetes, getting quality sleep, and staying socially connected can be crucial in the fight against Alzheimer’s.” Additionally, the association stresses the importance of early detection and how that can make a difference because “cognitive decline can start up to 15 years before a dementia diagnosis.”
My heart truly goes out to not only Glover and his family, but to all those who have experienced the impact of Alzheimer’s Disease.
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Author: Terrell Smith









