Terry Jones has dementia

Terry Jones, the 74-year-old member of the English comedy troupe Monty Python, has been diagnosed with a severe form of dementia.

The diagnosis was made public as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced Wednesday that Jones was set to receive its Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television.

“Terry has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a variant of frontotemporal dementia,” a representative for Jones said in the BAFTA press release. “This illness affects his ability to communicate and he is no longer able to give interviews. Terry is proud and honored to be recognized in this way and is looking forward to the celebrations.”

Jones wrote, directed and starred in such films as “Life of Brian” and “The Meaning of Life” and co-directed “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” with Terry Gilliam.