Phil Robertson's family has shared difficult news regarding the Duck Dynasty alum's health.
Last Friday (December 6), Jase Robertson, son of the 78-year-old reality TV star, announced on the Unashamed with the Robertson Family podcast that his father is in the "early stages" of Alzheimer's disease.
In the episode titled "Phil's diagnosis," the 55-year-old revealed that Robertson has been in particularly poor health due to a blood disease.
"Phil's not doing well. I think I spoke on the 1000th podcast. We were trying to figure out the diagnosis, but according to the doctors, they are sure that he has some sort of blood disease causing all kinds of problems," he said.
Watch the podcast episode below:Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, often begins with subtle memory losses, such as forgetting recent events or conversations, the Mayo Clinic reported. As it progresses, it can severely impair memory and cognitive function, affecting a person's ability to perform everyday tasks.
Jase explained that the disease has "accelerated, and it's causing problems with [Robertson's] entire body," adding: "And he has early stages of Alzheimer's. So, if you put those things together, he's just not doing well. He's really struggling."
He also shared that the professional hunter, who is also a father to sons Al, Jep, and Willie, expressed a desire to continue working despite his diagnosis.
"I'm like, 'Well Phil, you can barely walk around without crying out in pain, and your memory is not what it once was.' He's like, ‘Tell me about it.’ So he is literally unable to - I think he would agree — to just sit down and have a conversation," he added.
Jase revealed that the family - who appeared on the A&E reality series - are doing their best to support the Duck Dynasty patriarch and help manage the challenges associated with the condition.
"We’re trying to do a lot of things to figure out how to make him more comfortable and maybe help with his memory," he said.
"We’ve got a team of doctors and then we have another set of doctors who are looking at all the tests and they're all in agreement that there's no curing what he has. And so you know, what do you do? We’re trying to make him a little more comfortable," he added.
After the announcement, Robertson's loved ones took to social media to thank fans for the outpouring of prayers and support.
Willie Robertson penned that with “all the love, support, and accolades in regards to my father, Phil, it would seemed that he has passed away from this life, but he hasn’t. He is still alive, maybe not well, but very much alive".
"He can still communicate with people the ideas that are most important to him. In fact, it’s in a more loving and reflecting way than I have ever witnessed before. A true legend throughout his life, he somehow is still a legend, even in his humbled state," he added.
Sadie Robertson, Willie’s daughter, posted about her grandfather on Facebook, writing: "I’m so proud to be his granddaughter. I’m so proud to have learned how to love the Word, honor the Word, and teach the Word from him.
"I’m so glad that I grew up in a family where it was completely normal for strangers have a meal in our home, and get baptized in the river before they left because to Papaw Phil that was just natural! … Thank you all for the prayers!" she concluded.