DAILY MAIL
Former professional footballer Dean Windass has been diagnosed with stage two dementia, a condition that causes mild cognitive decline and memory lapses.
The news was first shared by former Manchester United defender David May on BBC Breakfast, where he spoke openly about the growing concerns around dementia in football.
May later clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that Windass had personally given him permission to discuss the diagnosis publicly, hoping to raise awareness about the condition.
When speaking about dementia live on TV, May said: ‘I only spoke to Dean Windass yesterday, ex-professional footballer. I asked Deano how he is. He’s been diagnosed with Stage 2 dementia. He’s the same age as me and he’s worried sick of how it’s going to be in the future for him.’
Shortly after the news broke, Windass himself posted a video on social media of him singing in his car, accompanied by the caption: ‘Just got to keep smiling and trying to help people.’
Stage two dementia is characterised by subtle but noticeable memory lapses, such as forgetting familiar names or phrases and misplacing everyday items like glasses or keys. While these symptoms can often be mistaken for normal aging, they mark the early signs of cognitive decline.
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