Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Diagnosed with Dementia, Carter Center Reveals

The Carter Center announced on Tuesday that former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former President Jimmy Carter, has been diagnosed with dementia.

According to the Carter Center, the 95-year-old former First Lady is reportedly "enjoying" at home with her husband in Plains, enjoying the springtime and valued visits with loved ones. Rosalynn Carter's health was not immediately made clear, but the Center said it does not plan to share any more information, according to CNN.

The Carter Center hopes that revealing Carter's dementia diagnosis will stimulate crucial conversations among families and healthcare settings.

Rosalynn Carter devoted her time as first lady to promoting mental health, even founding a presidential commission on the subject. Her lasting influence in this field is being felt today.

"We hope sharing our family's news will increase important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctor's offices around the country," the Carter Center statement reads.

Since February, 98-year-old former President Jimmy Carter has been in hospice care. He decided against more medical treatment and instead got care at home.

Icons of Positive Change

The Carters are the longest-married presidential couple, celebrating 75 years of marriage in 2021, per The Hill. President Carter is the oldest surviving former president and the longest-living former president in American history; they exchanged vows in 1946.

Rosalynn Carter continued to advocate for mental health issues at The Carter Center after her time in the White House, and the former first lady and ex-president Carter often traveled for their work advancing democracy throughout the globe and combating sickness in underdeveloped nations, according to AP News.

The couple established the Carter Center in Georgia in 1982, per ABC News. The Center has grown as a significant international humanitarian institution, concentrating on essential subjects, including human rights and public health.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter have also actively participated in Habitat for Humanity home construction projects, enhancing their reputation as champions of positive transformation.