Just over a year ago, Tony Christie revealed that he was one of the 900,000 people in the UK who are currently living with dementia. During an appearance on Channel 4 show Steph’s Packed Lunch, the (Is This the Way to) Amarillo opened up about his diagnosis.
“I didn't care. I came out in public live on television. I was talking on Steph’s Packed Lunch when I mentioned that I’d been to see a doctor who said I’d got the beginnings of dementia,” he tells OK! when we catch up with him for a chat. “I wasn't ashamed of it. That's why I talked about it.”
After experiencing difficulty with cryptic crosswords, having spent the past six decades completing them, and after forgetting the names of people he’d known for “donkey’s years”, the 81 year old was diagnosed with dementia after his wife Sue encouraged him to seek medical attention – though he hasn't let it slow him down.
“People should never, ever be ashamed of it. Get on with it and just carry on. The only thing I miss is that I was really good at cryptic crosswords,” Tony explains.
“I'm on the same tablets that they put me on two years ago, and they've not made it any stronger. They've held it back. They're still looking for a cure, and I think they will get a cure in the next few years. Hopefully I'm still here to take it.”
While his diagnosis may have come as a shock to fans, Tony’s career is as strong as it’s ever been and the star released his latest album, We Still Shine, earlier this year and he is about to head to Germany for a string of tour dates. He's got another album on the way too.
“My diagnosis didn’t affect my work, and it hasn't affected my work. I am still singing and performing as well as ever. I've got a brand new album out which I made in Nashville. We're planning a new album as well, so it's not affected that side of it,” he says.
“Touring feels no different to how it did when I was younger. I ignore my age. My wife goes with me everywhere, which is great because she enjoys it and I enjoy being there.”
And following his diagnosis, Tony has also become an ambassador for Music for Dementia and he is using his platform to help make music a central part of dementia care. As part of that, he has shown his support for the launch of its new, Give It A Go campaign, which encourages carers to give music a go and use it to help manage dementia symptoms.
“When I went for the tests I went to see a doctor and she said ‘you’ve got it’ because they did a scan of my head. They said that I was very fortunate because I’m in the music business and that’s one of the things that people with dementia can have as part of their therapy for it. It won't cure it, but it can help try to hold it back,” he explains, when asked about the role of music following his own diagnosis.
Having opened up about his own experience in getting a diagnosis, before we go, Tony has some words of advice for others who may be worried about certain symptoms as he encourages individuals to seek help if needed.
“If people think they may have dementia, the first thing is to see a doctor as quickly as possible,” he says. “If you think you've got it, see a doctor and they can help you and give you tablets that can help, which is what I did.”
Tony Christie is supporting the launch of Music for Dementia’s new ‘Give It A Go’ campaign which encourages carers to use music to help manage dementia symptoms like anxiety as well as making every day that bit more enjoyable.
