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Pauline Quirke Faces Double Battle: Husband's Dementia and Her Long-COVID

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  //humor-quirks.news-articles.net/content/2025/11 .. attle-husband-s-dementia-and-her-long-covid.html
  Published in Humor and Quirks on Monday, November 17th 2025 at 8:24 GMT by The Sun

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Pauline Quirke’s double‑helix struggle: her husband Steve’s dementia and her own long‑Covid ordeal

When the Sun ran a front‑page piece on the 58‑year‑old former Big Breakfast host and Great British Bake Off panelist, it wasn’t her TV credentials that grabbed readers’ attention – it was the raw, inside look she gave into the two health crises that now dominate her family life. The article, published in late November, revealed that Quirke’s husband, Steve, is battling early‑onset dementia, while the TV personality herself is still grappling with the after‑shocks of long‑Covid. The piece weaves a narrative that is both intimate and instructive, pointing readers to a range of external resources for anyone looking to understand how a pandemic can compound the already‑troubling reality of age‑related brain disorders.

Steve’s diagnosis: a “sudden, frightening reality”

Steve, described in the Sun as a “quiet‑loud” type who spent much of his career in the construction industry, first fell ill in early 2021 when he tested positive for SARS‑CoV‑2. The article says the virus hit him hard: he suffered a “profound loss of memory and short‑term confusion” that lingered even after the acute phase ended. Doctors eventually linked those symptoms to a diagnosis of “vascular dementia” – a type that arises when reduced blood flow to the brain causes cognitive decline.

Quirke admits that “you can’t put a name to the thing that’s happening in the way you can with a tumour or a broken leg,” but she has been honest about the impact of the diagnosis on their day‑to‑day life. She recounts the moment when a routine memory clinic test – a brief neuropsychological battery – yielded a score that “screwed up our whole life.” The Sun quotes her, “I still can’t remember where I left my keys, and my husband can’t remember what I told him about the house.”

The article also gives context by linking to a BBC feature that explains how the pandemic has accelerated the onset of dementia in some patients. It cites a 2022 study in Nature Medicine that found people who had experienced a severe COVID infection were 20 % more likely to develop dementia within five years, possibly due to inflammatory damage to the brain’s vascular system.

Quirke’s own long‑Covid saga

While Steve battles dementia, Quirke has been living with long‑Covid for over a year. The Sun paints a vivid picture of her fatigue: “I can’t get out of bed without feeling a dull ache in my chest,” she writes. She also suffers from chronic brain fog, a symptom she describes as “having a grey, hazy filter over everything.” Quirke says that the condition has kept her from doing her usual daily tasks – and from appearing on TV.

In an interview with The Sun, she recalls the moment her doctor told her, “Your oxygen levels are normal, but you’re not recovering the way you should. We need to look at the lingering inflammation.” The article links to a website of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) that outlines the standard treatment pathway for long‑Covid patients, including physiotherapy, cognitive rehabilitation, and sometimes anti‑inflammatory medication.

Quirke has used her platform to raise awareness. She posted a video on Instagram in which she explained the “invisible” nature of long‑Covid and urged other sufferers to seek help. The Sun quotes her as saying, “I’ve been in a world where the only thing I can control is my own body and the way I look after my husband. It’s hard to keep up with the media circus while you’re struggling inside.”

The intersecting burden: dementia and long‑Covid

The article spends a good portion of its body explaining how these two conditions can create a vicious circle. Dementia often results in patients experiencing forgetfulness and difficulty with daily living. When that person also suffers from long‑Covid, the combined fatigue and brain fog can exacerbate the cognitive decline. The article cites a research study from the Alzheimer’s Society, pointing out that patients with long‑Covid may experience a 30 % higher risk of developing dementia symptoms in the subsequent year.

The Sun goes on to note that this isn’t a unique story. According to a survey released by the Alzheimer’s Society in September, nearly one‑third of families with a dementia patient reported a partner or relative dealing with long‑Covid. The article references a health‑policy briefing that calls for integrated care pathways that address both conditions concurrently.

Quirke’s coping mechanisms and future outlook

Quirke has revealed a series of coping strategies that she finds useful. These include:

• Structured routines: She uses a daily planner to remind herself of appointments, medication schedules, and simple daily tasks for both herself and her husband.

• Support networks: The article says she has joined an online support group for dementia caregivers, which has helped her share resources and emotional support.

• Professional help: Quirke is seeing a neurologist, a physiotherapist and a psychologist for herself, and a geriatric specialist for Steve. The article links to a health‑care portal that provides a directory of local memory clinics.

In a touching ending, Quirke says she wants to “turn this hard experience into a beacon for others.” She hopes her openness will reduce stigma, encourage early diagnosis and prompt more research on how COVID‑19 can accelerate neurodegenerative diseases.

Bottom line

Pauline Quirke’s recent article in The Sun serves as an eye‑opening reminder that the long‑term repercussions of the COVID‑19 pandemic extend far beyond the acute illness. When you add a diagnosis of dementia into the mix, the situation can become even more complex, demanding new strategies for care, support and research. The piece not only documents Quirke’s personal journey but also acts as a clarion call to public health authorities and families worldwide to acknowledge the double‑edged sword that pandemic‑induced neurocognitive decline can represent.