It started off as a mere issue of forgetfulness, but it turned out to be a symptom of a very serious illness, B. Smith told “Today.” Her husband, Dan Gasby, also said she had been “doing things that were a little out of the ordinary." The iconic model, restaurateur and host of the TV show "B. Smith with Style" said she eventually discussed her memory lapses with a doctor and received the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. “I had tears in my eyes,” Smith said. “But at the same time I also said, ‘I’m not gonna give to it.’” Last November, she became disoriented and wandered through the streets of New York City for over 17 hours. “I thought I lost her. It was like living in a nightmare, but you’re awake,” Gasby said. Smith now appears in a public service announcement for the Brain Health Registry. The hope, Smith says, is that by speaking out publicly she can encourage more people to volunteer for clinical trials looking for a cure for the disease. Even though the disease has made life more difficult, Smith said: “I’m fighting right now."
