London: Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s brother has revealed that the 1982 Nobel Prize winner for Literature is suffering from dementia.
Jaime Garcia Marquez told students at a lecture in the city of Cartagena that his brother, who is 85, phones him frequently to ask basic questions that he forgets.
“He has problems with his memory. Sometimes I cry because I feel like I’m losing him,” the BBC quoted him as saying.
He is the first family member to speak publicly about the problem.
There have been rumours about Marquez’ memory problems.
Invited to talk about his relationship with Gabo, as the writer is affectionately known in Colombia, his younger brother Jaime said he could not hold back from talking about his illness anymore.
“He is doing well physically, but he has been suffering from dementia for a long time.“He still has the humour, joy and enthusiasm that he has always had,” he said.