Danny Glover, 79, Is Facing Alzheimer’s With Hope—His 3 Habits That May Slow Cognitive Decline
Following the actor’s powerful lead could improve brain function in 20 weeks
Key Takeaways
- Actor Danny Glover, 79, is living actively with Alzheimer's using 3 science-backed strategies.
- Glover's daily brain workouts and social connections may slow cognitive decline.
- Openness about diagnosis reduces stress and inflammation that can worsen Alzheimer's.
When Hollywood legend Danny Glover recently invited TODAY to his historic San Francisco townhouse, he revealed that he’s been living with Alzheimer’s disease since 2023. Yet far from being gloomy, the Danny Glover Alzheimer’s announcement has sparked a wave of hope among millions impacted by dementia. Because instead of retreating into isolation, the 79-year-old—star of over 200 films, including Lethal Weapon, Angels in the Outfield and Lonesome Dove—is continuing to let his light shine. He still travels, mentors youth, keeps up on current events and speaks about social justice. As he declared to People: “Life continues.”
Neurologist David Perlmutter, MD, the New York Times bestselling author of Grain Brain and an editorial board member for the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, says that following Glover’s lead can help millions with dementia increase opportunities for peace and joy. It may even slow progression of the disease. Keep reading for everything you need to know about the “Glover Strategy.”
Glover’s approach to Alzheimer’s can improve cognition
Beyond memory, the changes to Danny Glover’s health include noticeably slower speech and movements, softening the booming presence fans remember from the big screen. Yet he’s meeting physical changes with unmatched grace—and tireless support from his daughter Mandisa and brother Marty.
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“There are the moments that you keep remembering that validate the fact that you can remember stuff,” Glover told People. “And there are moments I’ll never forget.”
Glover and his family “have publicly shared that he was diagnosed several years ago and is continuing to live actively,” notes Dr. Perlmutter. “That is powerful because it reframes Alzheimer’s from a sentence of immediate loss to a condition that can be managed with support, planning and hope.”
There’s even scientific proof the effect is real: Recent research in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy found “intensive lifestyle intervention can slow progression and, in some people with early Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment, improve measures of cognition and function over 20 weeks,” says Dr. Perlmutter.
If you or someone you love is battling the progressive neurodegenerative condition, here are three core strategies with potential to have a huge impact.
Strategy 1: Stepping into the light
Many families initially hide a dementia diagnosis out of fear or stigma. Glover and his family are modeling openness—and that’s a very good thing. “When the diagnosis is shared thoughtfully, the person living with Alzheimer’s can help shape the plan, express wishes and receive support while they still have agency,” says Dr. Perlmutter. “It also gives caregivers the opportunity to organize practical needs, reduce isolation and, perhaps most importantly, build a support team.”
Reducing stress is also a crucial factor: “The burden of hiding the diagnosis can add stress for both the patient and family,” says Dr. Perlmutter. “Stress hormones like cortisol can enhance inflammation, threaten sleep and elevate blood sugar and blood pressure—all of which matter greatly in Alzheimer’s. Reducing that emotional load is part of good brain care.”
Strategy 2: Building a ‘cognitive detour’
Glover has shared that he starts every single day with a deliberate brain workout—seeking clarity by reading the news, looking at art and watching informative programs like Democracy Now!.
“When I wake up, I try to figure out something,” he told People. And his strategy is backed by science.
“Cognitive stimulation is one of the best-supported non-drug approaches in dementia care,” reveals Dr. Perlmutter. “Activities that engage attention, language, memory, emotion and curiosity may help preserve function and quality of life, especially when they are enjoyable and meaningful.” He adds that Glover’s routine sounds like it goes beyond “brain games” because it represents remaining engaged with the world. “Cochrane-reviewed evidence, considered the gold standard in scientific research, supports cognitive stimulation for improving or at least stabilizing cognitive functioning in people with dementia.”
Strategy 3: Keeping your world big and meaningful
Though Glover travels less, he still makes a conscious effort to mentor local youth and speak about social justice, staying connected to the purpose that defined his life (and won him an honorary Oscar, The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, in 2022). “Social connection is enormously important,” says Dr. Perlmutter. “Mentoring, gatherings and family involvement can help preserve identity and reduce the loneliness that often worsens the experience of the disease.” In fact, a 2024 Lancet Commission report “identified social isolation among key modifiable dementia risk factors.”
Danny Glover’s Alzheimer’s story is a blueprint for hope
Dr. Perlmutter encourages all of us to take steps to prevent Alzheimer’s and other forms of cognitive decline long before we experience symptoms. (You can read more about this in the forthcoming Brain Defenders: Harness the Power of Your Immune Cells to Protect Your Brain for Life, out Auust 18, 2026.)
“But even after diagnosis, the brain remains responsive to diet, exercise, sleep, stress reduction, cognitive engagement, social connection and purpose,” he says. “Good days can be protected and meaning can be preserved.” Glover is showing us all just how true that can be, and it may be the most powerful role of his life.
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