Having suffered from dementia for the past two years, Claudia Porsche has reportedly seen a rapid decline in her mental awareness and physical agility in recent months. Sources close to the couple have said the billionaire called for an end to his marriage after the disease made the relationship impossible. The severity of her symptoms has reportedly made Claudia unable to leave the house and in need of full-time care.
Porsche chief Wolfgang Porsche has filed for divorce from his parner of 16 years due to changes in her behaviour caused by her illness, the Mirror has reported.
Claudia, who is currently receiving care from four workers around the clock, was diagnosed with her neurodegenerative illness two years ago.
Porsche, 79, has reportedly found it impossible to live with his partner since her illness led to changes in her personality, sources close to the couple have said.
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Claudia has been unable to move in recent months since her illness has taken a turn for the worse, causing a sharp decline in cognitive functions and mental awareness.
The pair, who have been together since 2007, married in 2019.
German news outlets reported that Wolfgang has been spending more time with his close friend Gabriela Prinzessin zu Leiningen, 59, since separating from his wife.
A previous advisor for the German Government, Claudia has lived in close proximity to her daughter for the past two years.
In neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, personality changes usually occur when a person starts losing neurons in a part of their brain.
The behavioural changes will often reflect which part of the brain is losing the most cells.
“For example, the frontal lobes are the area of the brain right behind the eyes that controls our ability to focus, pay attention, be motivated, and other aspects of personality,” explains the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences.
When this part of the brain suffers a shortfall in cells, people lose their ability to remain focused.
As a result, they may become less motivated to complete tasks adequately or become more passive.
What’s more, neurodegenerative disease may alter the way an individual responds to their environment.
“A person with Alzheimer’s disease may be forgetful and have trouble following conversations,” warns the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences.
