Jerry Sloan Suffering from Parkinson's and Lewy Body Dementia

[JazzGal]

https://www.sltrib.com/sports/3743576-155/utah-jazz-jerry-sloan-suffering-from

Jerry Sloan is suffering from Parkinson's disease plus Lewy body dementia, the former Utah Jazz coach told the Salt Lake Tribune on Wednesday.

During an interview at his home in Riverton, with his wife Tammy at his side, Sloan said he was diagnosed with the illnesses last fall.

He decided to go public with because the Parkinson's symptoms, which include tremors, a hushed voice and sleeplessness, have progressed to the point where people have started to notice.

"I don't want people feeling sorry for me," said Sloan, who continues to walk four miles a day. . . .

This is sad news. My mother's cousin had this combination, and it wasn't a pleasant decline.

 

[hawkeye]

I was just about to post this as well. Very sad day in Jazz land.

 

[JazzGal]

Yep. Lewy Body Dementia is often characterized by hallucinations. I wonder if he is having those at all.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

His gold digging wife is excited.

 

[zyzz]

Lewy body dementia, the second most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer's disease, causes a progressive decline in mental abilities.

It may also cause visual hallucinations, which generally take the form of objects, people or animals that aren't there. This can lead to unusual behavior such as having conversations with deceased loved ones.

Another indicator of Lewy body dementia may be significant fluctuations in alertness and attention, which may include daytime drowsiness or periods of staring into space. And, like Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia can result in rigid muscles, slowed movement and tremors.

 

[JazzGal]

Doubt it - it can be a long, slow disease. Even if she was a gold digger, she'll have to go through a lot for the payoff.

 

[JazzGal]

The aforementioned relative would see spiders or bats or rats all over the walls. He was terrified a lot. His wife would have to calm him down and explain to him that they weren't hurting him and were okay where they were.

 

[The Midnight]

this is very sad news... hopefully the Jazz family is behind him every step of the way and he gets the best treatment money can buy.

 

[JimLes]

Simply, the Coach.

 

[addictionary]

I wonder if his neurotically tense past had an effect on his condition today. Tense people's hand tend to shake earlier than most people when they get older from what I've observed.

 

[Shad]

There's no cure for dementia sadly. It's a harsh and sad disease to see someone go through. They literally become someone they never were

 

[Getting Traded]

His gold digging wife is excited.

Inappropriate, Cy. This is too tragic to make a comment like that.

 

[fishonjazz]

I kinda figured he was losing it when I would see him at games in the crowd with a faraway lost look in his eyes as if he didn't know what was going on.

That sucks. I feel bad for him

 

[mellow]

Getting older doesn't bother me, because I feel like the same person inside. But it troubles me to watch my friends, my family, and in this case my hero grow old and show it. Jerry wouldn't know me for any reason but he is as familiar to me as my cousins or uncles. I feel sad for Jerry. I hope he can maintain his dignity at the highest level possible.

 

[Joe Bagadonuts]

His gold digging wife is excited.

Super crude comment.

 

[enchilada_style]

His gold digging wife is excited.

LOl you went for it

 

[Getting Traded]

I kinda figured he was losing it when I would see him at games in the crowd with a faraway lost look in his eyes as if he didn't know what was going on.

That sucks. I feel bad for him

Ya know, I wondered about the same thing. He looked kind of out of it when they put the camera on him during game stoppages.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Getting older doesn't bother me, because I feel like the same person inside. But it troubles me to watch my friends, my family, and in this case my hero grow old and show it. Jerry wouldn't know me for any reason but he is as familiar to me as my cousins or uncles. I feel sad for Jerry. I hope he can maintain his dignity at the highest level possible.

It's pretty scary that you are basically at the mercy of genetics. I know mental and physical activity is suppose to be something that prevent these kind of illnesses and I would imagine Sloan was probably one of more active seniors.

 

[Jazz4ever]

Lost family members to both of these, getting old sucks.

 

[akirac73]

My father in law has dementia...it's very difficult for everyone. My daughter summed it up this way, "it's like grandpa died but his body is still alive"...