Britain’s Thatcher Has Dementia

[tekisui]

LONDON — Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has been suffering from dementia for at least eight years and has often had to be reminded that her husband is dead, according to her daughter, Carol.

It is common knowledge that Mrs. Thatcher, 82, has been fragile since suffering a series of small strokes in 2002 and since the death of her husband, Denis, in 2003. She gave up public speaking several years ago, on the advice of her doctor, and makes far fewer appearances than she once did.

But while people in Mrs. Thatcher’s circle have long known that her mind is not what it once was, they have not spoken publicly about it until now.

Details of Mrs. Thatcher’s condition are recounted by her daughter in a new memoir, “A Swim-On Part in the Goldfish Bowl,” an excerpt of which appeared in The Mail on Sunday.

Carol Thatcher, 55, said that it was during a lunch at a London hotel in 2000 when she realized her mother was mentally slipping. They began discussing the Bosnian conflict of the 1990s when, to Carol Thatcher’s dismay, it became clear her mother was confusing that crisis with the Falklands war of the 1980s.

Mrs. Thatcher’s confusion was all the more upsetting because she had always been known for her prodigious memory and grasp of minute details.

more at link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/world/europe/26britain.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

[malaise]

1. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

She's had symptoms since she thought Hayek's neo-liberal bullshit could advance humanity. How ironic that both Reagan and Thatcher traveled the same path. Both forgot history.

Is her criminal son still plotting coups in Africa?

[tekisui]

2. Dementia is genetic.

It is interesting. Almost like a body/brain's defense mechanism to cope with still being alive, but not wanting to live with previous decisions.

BTW, how is Gustav treating you? Stay safe.

[malaise]

3. We're as ready as we can be

Watching to see if it turns WNW before hitting Haiti - that's our only worry. If that happens, we'll start moving stuff inside tonight. Hubby's first concern is the thought that if it hits us tomorrow, we may miss Obama's acceptance speech Thursday. That is so unlike him that I am in shock.

[tekisui]

4. lol.

Well, hopefully, it will miss you and not mess up your plans. We are finally getting a very nice drenching from Fay's remnants. I almost forgot what a good long rain felt like.