NHL great Howe battling memory loss, family says

Former Detroit Red Wings great Gordie Howe, who has become a voice for awareness of dementia and similar conditions since losing his wife of 56 years, is now facing his own fight with memory loss.

While the actual diagnosis is not clear, his family said the legendary National Hockey League and World Hockey Association player has been suffering from some sort of deterioration in recent years.

Marty Howe, one of Howe’s sons, said that while his father’s memory slips at times, it has not been pinpointed what condition he has.

“He has memory problems, but it is not dementia,” Marty Howe, who also serves as his father’s business manager, said. “His problems started about seven to eight years ago, so if it were dementia, he would not be with us anymore or he would not be able to keep up with his appearance schedule.

“Gordie averages three to five appearances a month. Appearances are what keeps him young as he loves meeting and interacting with people and his fans.”

Howe turns 84 next month.

In March 2009, his wife Colleen died from a rare form of dementia, known as Pick’s disease.

Another of Howe’s sons, Dr. Murray Howe, an Ohiobased radiologist, said his father faces the struggles of many other people his age, but he doesn’t believe he has dementia, as stated in other reports.