B. Smith, Lifestyle Guru Dies at 70 From Early- Onset Alzheimer's Disease: What It Means

[appalachiablue]

'Lifestyle Guru B. Smith Dies at 70 From Early Onset-Alzheimer's Disease—Here's What That Means,' Health, 2/25/20.

Former model, restaurateur, cookbook author, and lifestyle guru B. Smith passed away on Saturday at the age of 70 after her battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

"It is with great sadness that my daughter Dana and I announce the passing of my wife, Barbara Elaine Smith," her husband, Dan Gasby, said in a statement shared to Facebook. "B. died peacefully Saturday, February 22, 2020, at 10:50 pm, of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease in our home in Long Island, New York."

Gasby went on to thank Smith's caregivers, along with her family and friends for their support in her final days. "Thank you to everyone for respecting our privacy during this agonizing time," he wrote.



During her seven decades on earth, the lifestyle guru put together a vibrant resumé. From becoming one of the first African American women to grace the cover of Mademoiselle magazine in 1976 and hosting a popular syndicated talk show, to running three high-profile restaurants and publishing multiple best-selling cookbooks, her accomplishments were varied and impressive.

However, in 2013 at the age of 64, she lost her train of thought during a cooking demonstration on NBC’s Today. Because she had been experiencing forgetfulness for two or three years, she decided to see a doctor, who diagnosed her with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. She went public with her diagnosis the next year.

"It feels like crying," she told CBS in a 2014 interview when she was asked how it felt to not remember details such as the date, year, or month. "Things like that make me very sad."

RELATED: Here's How a Doctor Explains the Difference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia

- What is early-onset Alzheimers? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, or a loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking skills...

More, http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/lifestyle-guru-b-smith-dies-at-70-from-early-onset-alzheimers-disease%e2%80%94heres-what-that-means/ar-BB10kAa5?li=BBnba9O&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

~ Smith was far too young, tragic story. *Coffee is mentioned as a possible brain aid in one of the 'Health' articles.

*Related: 'The Difference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia,' Health

https://www.health.com/condition/alzheimers/difference-between-alzheimers-and-dementia

[still_one]

1. Very sad

[appalachiablue]

2. Just awful, such a talented, successful & beautiful woman who had

it all. Terrible disease, but there's some signs of progress coming I think.

[The Genealogist]

3. My partner's mother died of early onset Alzheimer's in her 60s

I'd only met her a few times in he past. The first time I saw her after she'd had the Alzheimer's for a while, she was unrecognizable. She'd appeared to have aged decades, her hair was a mess and she was in a horrible state of fear and anxiety. She came to our house for a while because she'd become afraid of her husband who was doing his best to take care of her. She spoke very little and was terribly confused. Her face expressed a mixture of stromg, negative emotions. I did my best to be kind and unthreatening to her. It was simply heartbreaking.

[appalachiablue]

4. So very sad & truly heartbreaking. I hope therapies will hurry up.

This article reminded me of Rita Hayworth, Angie Dickinson