Malcolm and Barbara: Love's Farewell (update)

'This heart-rending film follows Malcolm's journey from being a highly skilled composer, husband and father to the last years of his life.

ITV has clarified that the final scenes in the Malcolm and Barbara: Love's Farewell show Malcolm dying from dementia rather than his final moment of death. We hope the confusion and controversy surrounding the final scenes in the documentary won't detract from its powerful depiction of a family's battle with Alzheimer's disease.

There is nothing fake about Malcolm's devastating decline. Malcolm and Barbara made the brave decision to show the entirety of Malcolm's illness to shine a light on the fact Alzheimer's is a terminal disease.

One in three older people will end their life with a form of dementia. Malcolm's experience shows that dementia is not just a little bit of memory loss; it gradually robs people of their lives. We hope Malcolm's legacy will be a greater understanding of Alzheimer's and a greater national commitment to defeating this dreadful disease.'

Andrew Ketteringham
Director of external affairs

For further information contact Gayle Wing, Alzheimer's Society press office.

Notes for editors

• Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that causes a person's ability to remember, understand, communicate and reason to decline. It is the most common form of dementia.
• 1 in 3 older people will end their life with dementia.
• 700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051. 1 in 5 people over 80 have dementia.
• The Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and those who care for them. The Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• As a charity, the Alzheimer's Society depends on the generosity of the public to help it care, research and campaign for people with dementia. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/.
• The Alzheimer's Society Dementia Helpline number is 0845 300 0336 or visit http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/.