What is going on with Britney?

[BabylovesJohnny]

Just that really. I was early teens when she first appeared on the scene and I’ve always had a soft spot for her. She’s obviously got issues but I thought she was in a good place until recently. Her instagram account suggests otherwise. Has anyone else noticed? I hope she’s ok.

[SisterAgatha]

Without knowing her particular diagnosis, (and it is likely more than one) it’s impossible to say what fits and what doesn’t. Lots of people with learning difficulties are good performers.

[IseeIsee]

It's all very sad and she is clearly unwell. We won't know what has happened until many years from now. Similar to Elvis Presely, Lisa Minelli etc. I suspect she is a victim of child abuse but that's only my instinct.

[Gancanny]

Learning all the lyrics and complex dance moves, costume changes etc etc that are part of massive shows and vegas residencies, doesn't fit with learning difficulties or dementia

DS is autistic. He can tell you the exact stats, strengths, weakness, and type of every single Pokemon and he does it from memory. The same child cannot be allowed out alone despite being 11yo as he has no sense of risk/danger and a tendency to wander which could result in him getting lost as he cannot plan a route. His verbal ability is very high and he will talk to anyone who stands still long enough. As SisterAgatha says, it is impossible to say what is/isn't within her capabilities without knowing an exact diagnosis but neurological conditions and learning difficulties aren't a barrier to being good at something or several somethings, in this case that would be dancing/routines/singing.

[Gancanny]

I'm surprised that the human garbage known as Justin Timberlake hasn't popped up on social media to stick the boot in as he usually does whenever it appears that Britney Spears is getting any attention.

[Nosebogey]

@Gancanny

I'm surprised that the human garbage known as Justin Timberlake hasn't popped up on social media to stick the boot in as he usually does whenever it appears that Britney Spears is getting any attention.

Yes, he usually can’t resist a chance to milk her for publicity. He’s so disgusting.

[SirChing]

What is this type of dementia that is also a learning disability yet doesn't appear to be progressive? That's not like any early onset dementia I have ever known. There is absolutely no way that from when the conservatorship started, the dementia wouldn't have progressed t9 a point where she would be totally unable to perform. Early onset dementia is so aggressive that, by this point, I would sadly expect her to be near death if that was her diagnosis.

Does anyone know anymore about this?

[Kote]

Where does the boyfriend fit in to all of this? It all seems very strange...

[Bluntness100]

What is this type of dementia that is also a learning disability yet doesn't appear to be progressive

You need to google it, there are too many types to post all the links, but everyone seems to think dementia is just altzheimers or vascular, which it is Not. There are several types of rarer dementia which are linked to other conditions, and are due to either brain abnormality, genetics, or learning disabilities.

I am unsure if they are progressive or Not. The symptoms are usually lack of spatial awareness, problems with language, learning difficulties, intellectual difficulties, and even hallucinations. There are quite a number of different types of dementia, not just what we typically see in older people.

There is even juvenile dementias which are present in children from birth and is life limiting, to the extent they normally do not survive past mid teens.

[Bluntness100]

Talking about her "lip syncing" repeatedly makes it sound like anyone could do what she does and I don't believe that's true

The reason I mentioned the lip syncing is because she does. It’s openly stated. Her voice is screwed because she doesn’t sing in her normal voice and it’s damaged her vocal chords. I have no idea of her ability to recite lyrics, and if that may also be part of the reason, or not.

However you could logically see a reason why she isn’t microphoned up during shows. However the reason her management company says she lip syncs is due to voice problems.

[silentmonkeys]

This is sad

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

I've worked in NHS memory (Dementia) services, providing differential diagnosis (still wouldn't call myself an expert unlike perhaps others on this thread?) but the whole point of Dementia is that it is progressive, and degenerative. Even Fronto-temporal dementia which is characterised by significant impairment in spatial awareness (kinda important in dancing) is progressive. Pick's disease can involve hallucinations but it still progressive, degenerative and she wouldn't be driving around by now. As I said before, young onset dementia is very aggressive and if she was affected by it in 2008 when she had the famous breakdown, she'd probably by dead by now, or frankly near death. Life expectancy following diagnosis of Dementia averages at 12 years.

Learning difficulties are different to Dementia. People with LD are more likely to develop Dementia but don't confuse memory problems with a learning difficulty. Yes people with dementia struggle to learn things but that is because their brain cells are dying.

[differentnameforthis]

@SirChing

What is this type of dementia that is also a learning disability yet doesn't appear to be progressive? That's not like any early onset dementia I have ever known. There is absolutely no way that from when the conservatorship started, the dementia wouldn't have progressed t9 a point where she would be totally unable to perform. Early onset dementia is so aggressive that, by this point, I would sadly expect her to be near death if that was her diagnosis.

Does anyone know anymore about this?

There are in excess of 150 types of dementia.

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

And they're all progressive and degenerative

[Bluntness100]

Ah, ok, I wasn’t sure about the progressive/degenerative part so didn’t wish to state it categorically.

The court papers stated dementia, but everything else is sealed. So no one has any idea what has caused it or the type. But you can understand why she is unable to drive or make certain decisions if it is a form of dementia, and I can’t see why the court papers would be wrong, she is assessed by independent medical personnel appointed by the court.

You can also see why she might not like the control at points, due to lack of understanding of her own limitations.

However the key point is it’s unlikely the court papers were inaccurate in their diagnosis and why the conservatoire was granted by the judge. All that’s public is conservatoire granted due to dementia.

This is really a situation where the public know something is wrong, they know the conservatoire is in place, but they have no idea of Britneys condition or limitations because the family have chosen not to make it public knowledge. And quite rightly too in my opinion.

Speculating as to the type of dementia, the symptoms, life expectancy, ability levels is pointless, because there are so many different types, but it would tell us, she needs protecting, she needs making her life as enjoyable as possible, doing as much of what she wishes that she is capable of, and that sadly she will not recover, it will only get worse.

[FoxtrotOscar20]

@fluffybandana Yes this is what I thought. She has a gap between her front teeth now. Maybe she has neglected herself a bit. That's sad

[SirChing]

You need to google it, there are too many types to post all the links, but everyone seems to think dementia is just altzheimers or vascular, which it is Not. There are several types of rarer dementia which are linked to other conditions, and are due to either brain abnormality, genetics, or learning disabilities

I am a mental health nurse and did about a years worth of work in the memory clinic. I didn't know of any dementia which wasn't progressive and which would not be devastating, most likely fatal, to BS if she had been diagnosed with it in 2008.

Several mental health conditions are shown to result in some cognitive impairment over extended periods of time (often decades, and I am thinking of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as examples here), but to nothing like the same degree as dementia.

So i was very surprised to read someone stating otherwise with such certainty.

[GreyGardens88]

There's nothing wrong with her she's just forced fed medication that makes her look a bit doolally in her videos. Told if she doesn't take her meds she won't see her children or forced into a mental health facility. If she had szchiophrenia or dementia she would not be travelling around the world touring, meeting fans and releasing albums. It's a modern day slavery issue

[SirChing]

Speculating as to the type of dementia, the symptoms, life expectancy, ability levels is pointless, because there are so many different types

Not really. Yes there are many types but whether the impairment is at a steady rate or suddenly jumps (often in vascular dementia), if she had been diagnosed in 2008 with dementia, she REALLY wouldn't be performing now. On the basis that she would most probably be dead. The deterioration with early onset dementia tends to sadly be marked and aggressive. Very very few people would reach anywhere near 12 years of life with that kind of a diagnosis.

I have no idea what the conservatorship papers say but would be very interested in a link to them. All the googling I have done has failed to turn them up.

[Bluntness100]

So i was very surprised to read someone stating otherwise with such certainty

I have no idea which poster you’re referring to, but if it’s me, then re read, I stated I didn’t know if it was progressive or not.

[Bluntness100]

Yes there are many types but whether the impairment is at a steady rate or suddenly jumps (often in vascular dementia), if she had been diagnosed in 2008 with dementia, she REALLY wouldn't be performing now.

I’m not googling for you. I am no one secretary and I have told you what they say, you can either think the doctors and court is mistaken and you know better or you can take it as read. The documentation is available if you google. If you struggle to do this, then I’m sorry I do not feel inclined to support you in how to google.

[SirChing]

If you struggle to do this, then I’m sorry I do not feel inclined to support you in how to google

As I wasn't addressing my post to you directly, there is really no need to take it so personally.

[SirChing]

@MonsteraCheeseplant Your posts correlate with my (limited) experience too. I genuinely thought that there must have been a new type of dementia discovered which was caused by LDs AND wasn't necessarily progressive. But then I was flummoxed as to how the lack of progression could ever have resulted in its classification as a dementia.

I suspect (not having seen the court papers) that perhaps her Drs are describing some "dementia like symptoms" she displays when unwell, but with her actual diagnosis concealed. The New York Times and Washington Post both said last year that the exact diagnosis has never been cited for privacy reasons.

[Bluntness100]

Fair enough, it’s a sore point of mine, folks on here asking you to post links. It’s very much a “I don’t believe you and can’t be arsed looking so could you do the work and prove it to me” thing, so I always respond the same

And agree, dementia could be a catch all term with the reality hidden. I was very surprised by it too.

[MrsMidgeMaisel]

I didn't think a diagnosis had been provided. I thought what was said was, the conservatorship is one that would the type you'd expect for someone with dementia, ie because it's permanent, it's for someone with a deteriorating progressive illness. I think it was insinuated by the media rather than explicitly stated (I might be wrong!) I can't find the docs - I've had a quick google!

[SirChing]

I have found the court docs. They DO mention dementia but don't mention provide any other box to tick to specify ongoing MH problems. The papers were completed by lawyers not Drs.

It could well be the case that of all the reasons to place a conservatorship in place, dementia most closely fits the circumstances as its a long term MH issue which people will never not have. Which also applies to several other MH diagnoses.

Pretty much, I would take the accuracy of the dementia box being ticked to ACTUALLY reflect her diagnosis, with a hefty pinch of salt.