Davina McCall says she had 'advanced Alzheimer's' symptoms after brain surgery

TV presenter Davina McCall has opened up about experiencing severe memory loss and symptoms resembling advanced Alzheimer's following brain surgery in 2024. She shared her recovery journey, noting that it took a year for her cognitive functions to stabilize and improve.
Why it matters
McCall's public disclosure sheds light on the often-overlooked cognitive side effects of brain surgery and the long-term recovery process for patients.
By Paul Glynn Culture reporter Published 12 minutes ago TV presenter Davina McCall has said she experienced symptoms similar to "advanced Alzheimer's" following brain surgery.
Speaking on Paloma Faith's podcast Mad, Sad and Bad, the 58-year-old described suffering from memory loss while recovering from an operation to remove a benign brain tumour in 2024.
"After I'd had my brain tumour taken out, I had advanced Alzheimer's, so I couldn't remember anything," the former Big Brother host told singer and Celebrity Traitors star Faith.
"When I came out of the operation, I didn't know I'd had an operation," she recalled. One regular member of staff would ask McCall every day if she could remember their name. "And I'd go, 'I don't know'."
The Masked Singer judge had surgery in November 2024 after a colloid cyst was found in a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work.
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