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Davina McCall compares brain surgery memory loss to advanced Alzheimer's
Overview
TV presenter Davina McCall has shared that she experienced severe memory loss, akin to advanced Alzheimer's, following surgery in November 2024 to remove a benign brain tumour. Speaking on Paloma Faith's podcast, McCall described struggling with short-term memory, such as forgetting visits from her partner and being unable to follow films or books. She credits singing lessons with helping her recovery, and subsequent MRI scans have confirmed her tumour is not returning.
Key points
- Davina McCall underwent surgery in November 2024 to remove a benign brain tumour called a colloid cyst.
- She described her post-operative memory loss as being similar to advanced Alzheimer's, affecting her short-term memory for months.
- McCall could not watch films or read books because she could not remember events or pages from a short time prior.
- She credits singing lessons with helping to heal her brain injury and recovery.
- In April 2025, scans confirmed that her tumour was not coming back.