Inside Denis Law's heartbreaking dementia health battle that left Man Utd icon leaning on his 'strong' wife before his death aged 84
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Manchester United icon Denis Law's death at the age of 84 was confirmed on Friday, leading to tributes pouring in from the football community and beyond. Many of the tributes focused on his goalscoring exploits for United - and with good reason. Law netted 237 goals in 404 games for the Red Devils, and is still the club's third-highest goalscorer of all-time behind Wayne Rooney and Sir Bobby Charlton.
![[Denis and Diana were married for over 60 years after tying the knot in December 1962]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/23/94231039-14298563-image-a-50_1737158132117.jpg)
But Law also had to come through adversity in his life, particularly after he revealed in August 2021 that he had been diagnosed with vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Unsurprisingly, Law tackled the challenge with the same courage he showed on the football pitch. But the degenerative brain disease did take its toll on Law, and in March 2023, he bravely opened up about how his wife, Diana, had come to his aid when he needed her most.
![[Diana admitted Denis could not recall his past achievements as dementia took its toll on her husband]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/23/94231043-14298563-image-m-52_1737158163409.jpg)
Having partnered with dementia as part of an Alzheimer’s Society campaign, Denis and Diana released a joint testimony that read: 'When you get married, you never imagine that decades after making those vows of "in sickness and in health" that you will end up testing them to the limits with dementia.
![[Denis and Diana had five children together, and the former Man United star showed great courage in his final years following his diagnosis]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/23/94231045-14298563-image-a-53_1737158201313.jpg)
'We tackle everything together. But living with dementia means Diana has to take responsibility a bit more now although we still come as a team of course. It’s a change for both of us. Denis Law leaned on his wife Diana (left) for strength in his final years after being diagnosed with dementia.
![[Diana was always by her husband's side when he needed her most as they raised awareness for dementia and Alzheimer's disease]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/23/94231057-14298563-image-m-55_1737158236014.jpg)
