Richard Hammond fears early-onset dementia after crashes

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 11:34 · Archive

Richard Hammond has revealed he fears developing early-onset dementia but is too scared to get tested.

Richard Hammond, 56, has revealed he fears developing early-onset dementia but is too scared to get tested. He has suffered two serious crashes during his career: a 320mph jet-powered dragster crash in 2006 at Elvington Airfield near York whilst filming for Top Gear, which left him in a coma, and a supercar accident in 2017.

Speaking on a joint episode of the High Performance and DRIVETRIBE podcasts, Hammond said: 'Brain injury is with me forever probably, and I do worry about it, will lead to early-onset dementia. I very much hope not, but it's entirely possible that it could.' He acknowledged that he forgets things but attributed this to his age rather than brain damage.

Hammond admitted he has not been checked for symptoms of the condition because he is 'scared to death to do it'. He compared his fear of a brain scan to his anxiety around routine health checks, saying: 'Because I wouldn't want to know that's what was coming, would I?' In September, he marked the 20th anniversary of his 2006 accident and paid tribute to the emergency services who saved his life.

Richard Hammond fears early-onset dementia after crashes — Image: Oxford Mail

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How it is being reported

Richard Hammond opens up on dementia fears after Clarkson commentsRichard Hammond has revealed he fears developing early-onset dementia but is "too scared" to get tested, after Jeremy Clarkson's jokes.Oxford Mail · 23 Oct, 11:00
Richard Hammond opens up on dementia fears after Clarkson commentsRichard Hammond has revealed he fears developing early-onset dementia but is "too scared" to get tested, after Jeremy Clarkson's jokes.Oxfordshire Guardian · 23 Oct, 11:00

In this story: Richard Hammond · Jeremy Clarkson · Top Gear · Elvington Airfield · York

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