Dame Barbara Windsor has been ‘secretly battling’ Alzheimer’s

She found out she had the disease in 2014

Dame Barabara Windsor has been "secretly battling" Alzheimer's, her husband says. The 80-year-old former EastEnders star, who played Peggy Mitchell, is taking medication to help manage her symptoms which have "grown steadily worse" in recent weeks. Her husband Scott Mitchell has revealed the news in a new interview in order to help other families whose loved ones may be going through similar and so members of the public are not confused when meeting Barbara, which they regularly do, such is her popularity. [caption id="attachment_177574" align="alignnone" width="1496"] Dame Barbara Windsor as Peggy Mitchell in Eastenders (Credit: BBC)[/caption] He said that Dame Barbara cried when she was told the devastating news and that her memory loss and confusion have grown worse in recent weeks. In the unpaid interview Scott told The Sun: "Firstly, I hope speaking out will help other families dealing with loved ones who have this cruel disease. "Secondly, I want the public to know because they are naturally very drawn to Barb­ara and she loves talking to them. "So rather than me living in fear she might get confused or upset, they'll know that if her behaviour seems strange, it's due to Alzhei­mer's and accept it for what it is. "I squeezed her hand back and said: 'Don't worry, we'll be OK.'" [caption id="attachment_177575" align="alignnone" width="1701"] Barbara Windsor after she was made a Dame Commander of the order of the British Empire for her services to charity and entertainment in March 2016 (Credit: John Stillwell)[/caption] Mr Mitchell said "I can't protect her any longer" and "I know that rumours are circulating in showbusiness circles." He added: "And, since her 80th birthday last August, a definite continual confusion has set in, so it's becoming a lot more difficult for us to hide. "I didn't want someone else to dictate how or when the diagnosis came out, so that's why I'm ­speaking about it now." He also said Barbara "comes alive" whenever they go out with friends, but he "lives in constant terror" that she might have a panic attack, or "get photographed when she’s not looking right." Mr Mitchell said he first noticed symptoms of Alzheimer's in 2009, when his wife began finding it difficult to learn her lines. By 2016 it was agreed she would leave EastEnders for the final time.