Former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter has dementia

Former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter has been diagnosed with dementia, according to a connection from her family.

The announcement comes arsenic her husband, erstwhile President Jimmy Carter, receives hospice attraction astatine their location successful Georgia.

"She continues to unrecorded happily astatine location with her husband," the statement said.

Former President Carter, 98, was placed connected hospice attraction successful February. He is the nation's longest-living president.

Mrs Carter, 95, the oldest surviving archetypal lady, was said to beryllium "enjoying spring... and visits with loved ones" contempt her diagnosis.

President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, served 1 word successful bureau from 1977-81.

Since leaving the White House, Mr Carter and his woman person remained active, carrying retired humanitarian enactment done his Carter Center.

Mrs Carter is simply a long-time advocator for intelligence healthcare and has worked to trim the stigma against intelligence illness. As archetypal lady, she was the honorary seat of the President's Commission connected Mental Health and helped walk a bill to summation spending connected intelligence wellness services for disadvantaged communities.

Presidential historiographer Michael Beschloss hailed Mrs Carter connected Twitter arsenic "a magnificent champion for intelligence wellness successful America for a fractional century".

Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock said helium was praying for the erstwhile archetypal woman and her hubby "during these pugnacious and tender times. So grateful for their continuing illustration of work and sacrifice".

Dementia is simply a wide diagnosis for a nonaccomplishment of cognitive functions, including memory, connection and problem-solving, that are terrible capable to interfere with regular life, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Nearly 1 successful 3 American seniors dies with Alzheimer's oregon different signifier of dementia, the relation said.

After leaving office, Mrs Carter besides founded the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, which offers support, probe and backing to Americans who attraction for aging household and loved ones.

"The universality of caregiving is wide successful our family, and we are experiencing the joyousness and the challenges of this journey," the household said successful its statement.

"We anticipation sharing our family's quality volition summation important conversations astatine room tables and successful doctor's offices astir the country."