Alex Trebek Underwent Testing for Early Alzheimer's After Suffering from Memory Lapses

Alex Trebekis in the clear after undergoing testing forearly onset Alzheimer’s, and getting worrying results the first time around.

The longtimeJeopardyhost, 78, revealed that he opted to test forthe neurodegenerative diseaseafter noticing that he couldn’t recall facts with his usual speed.

“I love doing crossword puzzles, and recently I’d be looking at a clue, it’d be 23 across, and I’d be trying to fit the answer into 26 across. I was always off,”he told Vulture. “Because of that I went to be tested for early Alzheimer’s.”

Trebek’s results were initially concerning.

“The first time they tested me they said, ‘It doesn’t look good,’ ” he said. “Then we did more testing and they said, ‘You’re okay. No need to worry.’ ”

Trebek said that the concern wasn’t unexpected given his age.

“It’s natural. I’m 78. It’s not like this happened at 50,” he said. “When it’s clear that it’s time for me to go, I’ll go.”

Alex Trebek.Kris Connor/Getty

Talk of his mental fitness comes after speculation earlier this year that Trebek, who is now in his 34th year of hosting the trivia show,would soon retire. He said in June that the odds were “50-50 and a little less” that he would bow out of the show once his contract was up in 2020.

But on Nov. 1, Sony Pictures Television announced thatTrebek had extended his contract through the 2021-2022 season.

In a video update on Jan. 4, Trebek said that the “prognosis is excellent.” He was able to return to filming a few weeks later.

source: people.com