“Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
The reality TV alum’s family revealed the patriarch’s health struggles on Friday’s episode of their “Unashamed with the Robertson Family” podcast.
Jase opened the episode telling listeners that the 78-year-old’s health has been in decline in recent years due to what doctors believe is a blood disease.
“I think I spoke on the 1000th podcast. We were trying to figure out the diagnosis, but we’re — according to the doctor, they’re sure that he has some sort of blood disease that’s causing all kinds of problems,” he started.
“He’s had this for a few years, it’s just gotten a lot worse,” Al chimed in.
Jase continued: “It’s accelerated and causing a lot of problems with his entire body and he has early stages of Alzheimer’s. So, if you put those things together, he’s just not doing well. He’s really struggling.”
“He keeps saying, ‘I’m gonna get back to the podcast,’” Jase revealed. “But I’m like, ‘Well, Phil, you can barely walk around without crying out in pain.’”
The son added that he’s told his father about his memory not being what it once was, joking that his dad responded, “Tell me about it.”
“So, he’s literally unable to — and I think he would agree — to just sit down and have a conversation.”
Though the disease is still in its early stages, his son Al shared Phil still has some “good days and bad days.”
“There’ll be some days [where] he’s a little better, he’s a little more with you, and other days not so much,” he shared.
Jase added, “He just can’t retain weight, he keeps losing weight, and he’s just not able to do much.”
