A news anchorist was killed because he thought he was suffering from dementia



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A press presenter in Miami, who died in early June, committed suicide for fear of dementia.

Todd Tongen, 56, was found dead in his home in Pembroke Park on June 3rd. The cause of his death was a suicide, confirmed WLPG, the station where he worked, on June 5th.

"I do not really think that he was thinking of ending his life, as far as I know," Tongen's brother Scott Tongen said on the radio, adding that his brother was considering going to Las Vegas and in Canada.

"But there was clearly something that was bothering him," he said.

"He left scrambled messages that we have not seen yet, but there was a simple note saying that he was lost and that he was forgiving him," said the doctor.

Dr. Tongen said that he thought his brother was afraid of Lewy body dementia, an illness that killed their mother in August 2017.

"I am convinced that he thought he had," Dr. Tongen told WLPG, noting that his brother had balance problems similar to those of their mother at the beginning of the illness. "Whether there was conclusive evidence or not, I think he thought he had it, and that might have been enough."

The channel said the Tongen family was asking people to donate to the Lewy Body Dementia Association in memory of him.

"The Lewy Body Dementia Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness, supporting people and promoting the scientific breakthroughs of Lewy Body's dementia," he said.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Lewy body dementia is the second most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer's dementia, caused by protein deposits, or Lewy bodies, developing in the nerve cells of the body. brain.

"Lewy body dementia causes a gradual decline in mental abilities. People with Lewy body dementia may experience visual hallucinations and changes in alertness and attention. Other effects include signs and symptoms resembling Parkinson's disease, such as muscle stiffness, slow movement and tremors, "he said.

Symptoms include movement disorders such as difficulty walking, cognitive problems such as poor attention and trouble sleeping. As the disease progresses, it causes severe dementia, aggressive behavior, depression, and increased risk of falling and injury.

On average, people die about eight years after the onset of symptoms.

Declaration

After the cause of death was revealed, WLPG President and CEO Bert Medina issued a statement.

"We are shocked and saddened by the death of Todd Tongen, but we choose to remember how he lived," he said.

"Todd was an incredibly talented journalist. He spent 30 years at WPLG telling the stories of members of our community and devoting himself to this community. It was an incredible person. He illuminated the room with his warm personality.

"As difficult as it may seem, our press team reports on Todd's death," added Medina. "We will be reporting on this painful topic of suicide and mental health and perhaps we could help someone in trouble. Todd misses us terribly. Our staff suffers, but I congratulate them for the way they handled this situation with grace, strength and professionalism. "

"We are all hurt by the loss of our unique and precious friend," added Neki Mohan, co-host of Tongen on the weekend mornings. "Todd was the foundation of this newsroom. He will never be replaced. I chose not to focus on how he died, but on his life. My memories of our 10 years together will forever illuminate my life. I want to support his family in this terrible time. He loved them so much. Rest in peace, my friend. "

If you or any of your acquaintances have suicidal thoughts or if you need a conversation, call the Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255.

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