Legendary model, restaurateur, and entrepreneur B. Smith has Alzheimer’s disease and has gone public with her fight to halt the progression of the disease. Born Barbara Smith, the 64 year old was one of the first Black faces to grace the cover of Mademoiselle. Alzheimer’s affects the brain, causing gradual dementia that could become severe. The disease currently affects more than five million Americans.
Smith, who opened her first popular B. Smith restaurant in New York in 1986 and then opened two more, says she had never considered the possibility she might have Alzheimer’s. She and husband and business partner of 22 years, Dan Gasby, were both stunned by the news.
She was diagnosed at the age of 60, when she went to the doctor to discuss disturbing symptoms. She couldn’t understand why she kept repeating statements and found answering simple questions challenging.
In the full video interview with “CBS Sunday Morning,” Smith struggled to answer questions about the day of the week, the date, month, and year.
Despite her condition becoming progressively worse compared to her initial diagnosis, B. Smith remains optimistic. “I think the future is going to be fine,” she said. “I’m going to do my best to make it work out for me and for as many people as I can possibly help, too.”