Actress Jeon Sung-ae Opens Up About Dementia Fears and Health Concerns

On February 19, actress Jeon Sung-ae appeared on TV Chosun's Perfect Life (퍼펙트 라이프), where she candidly discussed her health issues, including a family history of dementia, high cholesterol, and pre-diabetes. Jeon revealed that her mother was diagnosed with dementia in her early 80s and passed away at 84 after living with her for six months as her condition worsened.

Jeon shared her own experiences, stating, "I've been experiencing memory lapses for the past two years. Forgetting phone numbers is common for me. While filming the movie Seven Queens (7인의 황후) last year, I would sometimes forget the names of my co-stars, even though I recognized their faces. This makes me worry that I might be developing dementia like my mother did." Medical experts on the show expressed concern, suggesting that her symptoms could indicate a higher risk of dementia rather than simple forgetfulness.

Later in the episode, Jeon visited her late mother's grave with her two sisters, reflecting on the time she spent caring for her mother during her illness. After paying their respects, the sisters went to a jjimjilbang (찜질방) where Jeon confided in her siblings about her fears regarding dementia, mentioning that she sometimes struggles to recognize her husband and has difficulty recalling recent events.

Jeon also expressed her worries to her daughter, Mi-ja, saying, "What scares me the most is losing control over my bodily functions. If that happens, I hope you can help me." Mi-ja reassured her mother, saying, "Don't say that, Mom. Even if it happens, I'll take care of it."

Towards the end of the broadcast, Jeon underwent her first dementia screening, voicing her concerns about her memory loss and family history. She noted instances of misdialing phone numbers and forgetting recent meetings. After undergoing various tests, the results showed that her brain activity was normal, and her MRI indicated age-related changes rather than dementia.