Jon Snow has described himself as "truly bowled over" by the wave of goodwill that has followed his public disclosure of living with Alzheimer's disease.
The 78-year-old former Channel 4 News presenter, who revealed last Friday that he received his diagnosis in 2023, has been flooded with messages of support from admirers and prominent figures alike.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised Mr Snow as a "true giant in journalism," while singer Annie Lennox and his former colleague Kirsty Lang were among those reaching out.
Speaking to the Alzheimer's Society, Mr Snow said this week: "I'm truly bowled over by the outpouring of support and affection since revealing my dementia diagnosis."
Jon Snow decided to share his diagnosis to raise awareness of Alzheimer's | GETTYThe charity reported a significant increase in website visits following his announcement, particularly to its dementia symptoms checklist.
The veteran broadcaster has now thrown his weight behind the Alzheimer's Society's campaign pressing ministers to overhaul dementia treatment and support services.
Mr Snow highlighted that patients currently face average waits of three and a half years before receiving a diagnosis, leaving many without crucial assistance.
"Too many people are experiencing delays in diagnosis on average 3.5 years meaning they're left in limbo without the help they need," he said.
Jon Snow in 2005 | GETTYHe emphasised that earlier identification of the condition opens pathways to treatment, care and participation in potentially groundbreaking research.
"People living with dementia and their families have waited long enough for change. We must demand better for everyone affected," Mr Snow added, urging the public to sign the charity's open letter calling for a "bold and ambitious plan for dementia" from the Government.
Mr Snow's path to diagnosis was marked by initial resistance, with the journalist telling The Daily Mail he had been reluctant to consult doctors and insisted nothing was amiss.
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His wife, Dr Precious Lunga, an epidemiologist, eventually persuaded him to seek medical attention in 2023, leading to the diagnosis through brain imaging.
Dr Lunga revealed her husband had fallen into severe depression after leaving television, becoming withdrawn and losing interest in activities he once enjoyed.
"Friends kept asking me if Jon was all right and I would have to lie and say he's fine, but I knew he wasn't," she told the publication.
Mr Snow has spoken previously about his mother Joan's decade-long battle with Alzheimer's before her death, and has participated in clinical trials for the condition.
Jon Snow was diagnosed with the condition in 2023 but decided to share the news now | GETTYMr Snow's forthcoming documentary, Jon Snow: A Last Big Story, will see him combine his personal journey with Alzheimer's alongside an investigation into a Zambian community affected by a mining disaster.
The programme follows the veteran journalist as he examines how local land and water supplies were impacted by the incident.
Mr Snow has described the project as one final major journalistic endeavour, bringing together his decades of investigative reporting experience with his current health challenges.
"As a journalist, you never expect to become the story, but it's heartening to know that sharing my experience has contributed to a surge in visits to Alzheimer's Society's website," he reflected.
The documentary will broadcast on Channel 4 at 8pm on June 20.