Miki Berkovich's Family Reveals He Is Battling Dementia

Miki Berkovich, one of Israel's greatest basketball legends and a longtime star of Maccabi Tel Aviv, is currently facing a serious medical challenge as he suffers from dementia. His family disclosed the condition during a special interview on Keshet 12's program hosted by Niv Reskin on August 24, 2026. Berkovich's children and wife shared intimate details about his gradual cognitive decline, which they first noticed during the COVID-19 pandemic when his vision and memory began to deteriorate.

His wife described the initial signs, including vision problems and difficulty reading newspapers and watching television, as well as occasional driving disorientation. The family organized a surprise trip to New York, where Berkovich's confusion became more apparent, such as mistaking locations and not recognizing family members. The diagnosis was confirmed as a form of dementia affecting brain cells, causing memory loss and cognitive impairment.

Close friends and former teammates, including Tal Brody and Moti Aroesti, also observed Berkovich's memory lapses and cognitive decline over recent years. Brody recounted how Berkovich, once able to recall many player names, began to forget them during their workouts. The family expressed the emotional difficulty of witnessing the transformation of a once strong and vibrant figure into someone struggling with the disease, emphasizing the pain of seeing "the biggest and strongest father" change so drastically.

Despite the challenges, the family finds solace in small moments of recognition and smiles from Berkovich. They highlighted the importance of understanding and compassion as they navigate this difficult period together. The interview sheds light on the personal impact of dementia on a national sports icon and his loved ones.