Technology and Science05 June, 20262 min read
Jon Snow, 78, Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis In Channel 4 Documentary
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Jon Snow, 78, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2023. He will discuss his diagnosis in Channel 4's documentary Jon Snow: A Last Big Story.
Alzheimer’s disclosure
Veteran Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow, 78, has revealed he is living with Alzheimer’s disease, with the condition described as the most common form of dementia. The Alzheimer’s Society said Snow will be seen navigating his diagnosis in a documentary produced by Basement Films, titled 'Jon Snow: A Last Big Story', airing on Channel 4 on Saturday, 20 June.
“At the beginning I wanted to hide it, there’s so much prejudice.”
In the film, Snow says: "At the beginning I wanted to hide it, there’s so much prejudice." He adds: "Any sort of hint of mental decay, you're sort of dead."
Family, diagnosis, and stigma
Snow’s wife, Dr Precious Lunga, is described as an epidemiologist with a PhD in neuroscience, and she said friends kept asking if Jon was alright while she had to lie and say he’s fine. In the Daily Mail interview, Snow questioned the diagnosis, saying: "I mean sometimes I doubt whether I’ve really got it."
The BBC reports that Lunga said Snow was initially reluctant to see a doctor, but he saw a specialist in 2023 and was given a mini-mental state exam, scoring 29 out of 30. Michelle Dyson, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society, said Snow’s decision to talk publicly was "a real act of courage and his story will resonate with so many."
Documentary and public stakes
The documentary 'Jon Snow: A Last Big Story' is set to follow Snow coming out of retirement for one last investigation into a mining disaster affecting local communities in Zambia, where he and Precious spend much of their time. The BBC says the film will have its premiere at Sheffield Documentary Festival next week and be shown on Channel 4 on 20 June, while Channel 4’s head of news Louisa Compton called it "a profound privilege" to document his last big investigation.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised Snow as a "true giant in journalism" and said his decision to go public is "helping others feel less alone and raising awareness of a condition that affects so many families". Alzheimer’s Society said the documentary is part of its Defeating Dementia campaign and that an early diagnosis can unlock vital support, help families plan ahead, and potentially open the door to participation in clinical trials.