Heartbroken Danniella Westbrook announces 𝕕eath of dad from dementia

Danniella Westbrook has been left devastated following the death of her dad.

The EastEnders star confirmed her dad’s death on Friday (January 19) following his dementia.

Danniella wrote on social media that she held her dad’s hand ’til the end’.

‘Rest easy, Daddy’, she penned.

Danniella Westbrook has been left heartbroken by the death of her father

‘Jay and I will carry you in our hearts forever, and so will our children. We love you.’

Her dad Andrew’s death comes after Danniella suggested he was unwell a few days ago.

The 50-year-old TV star wrote: ‘Losing my dad and praying for strength.’

Speaking previously about her dad’s illness, she described dementia as ‘a horrible illness’ but added that he ‘still remembers a lot’.

Andrew had been suffering from the disease for some time now.

The Celebrity Big Brother star previously paid tribute to him on Father’s Day 2022 with a selfie.

She wrote to her followers: ‘Happy Father’s Day to the amazing men in my life.

‘The first, my dad who has dementia but luckily still remembers us all.

‘Thank you dad for being amazing all our lives and we love you.’

Danniella rose to fame on BBC soap EastEnders back in 1990.

She played the iconic and feisty Sam Mitchell until 1996.

Meanwhile, her dad, known to loved ones as Andy, was a taxi driver.

He later became a carpet contractor and raised Danniella alongside her younger brother, Jay, in Essex.

Chatting about her upbringing, Danniella told The Observer: ‘I came from a very loving family.’

She added that she ‘was very horsey’ and ‘used to ride every weekend.’

‘But I always wanted to be famous. My mum and dad thought I’d grow out of it, but I didn’t.’

Alzheimer’s and dementia: the facts
The most common forms of dementia (symptoms of a decline in brain function) are Alzheimer’s disease followed by vascular dementia.

Alzheimer’s is caused when plaques and tangles form in the brain making it increasingly hard for it to function properly. Early symptoms include forgetting recent events, struggling to remember words, becoming disorientated in familiar places and finding it difficult to concentrate.

Common early symptoms of vascular dementia include problems making decisions or following a series of steps, such as cooking a meal; slower speed of thought and trouble sleeping. The condition can also cause significant mood changes and depression and make people behave completely out of character.

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer – and one in three babies born today will develop dementia in their lifetime. The risk of developing both Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia roughly doubles every five years from the age of 65. Women and men are affected equally. Diabetes, obesity, heart problems and high blood pressure all increase the risk.

However, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing the diseases by leading a healthy lifestyle – not smoking or drinking to excess, eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Keeping mentally and socially active is also beneficial.

The third most common form of dementia – accounting for an estimated 20 per cent of cases – is Lewy body. With this condition, tiny clumps of protein appear in the brain’s nerve cells, causing a range of issues including mood swings, problems processing thoughts, hallucinations, difficulty balancing and walking slowly. Although DLB (dementia with Lewy body) can affect people under 65, it is much more common as we age, affecting men and women equally.

There is currently no cure for any of the forms of dementia. But getting an early diagnosis is very important in allowing you and your loved ones to access all the medical and social support available. If you are worried that you have any of the symptoms, your GP will be able to refer you to a specialist who can carry out a range of tests.

If you are worried that yours or someone else’s symptoms may be dementia, download the Alzheimer’s Society symptoms checklist, on alzheimers.org.uk; for more information or support on anything you’ve read here, call our support line on 0333 150 3456 or visit our website.