Miki Berkovich's Family Reveals His Battle with Severe Dementia in New Documentary

The family of Israeli basketball legend and Israel Prize laureate Miki Berkovich has publicly disclosed his diagnosis with severe dementia in a new documentary titled "Miki's Secret." After years of speculation about his health, the family confirmed that Berkovich suffers from Lewy body dementia, a particularly challenging form of the disease. His wife, Shelly, described the condition as one of the hardest subtypes of dementia, emphasizing the complexity of his situation.

Their son, Niv, explained that this dementia affects brain cells and leads to memory loss, highlighting the medical severity. Shelly also shared the emotional difficulty Berkovich faced initially, noting his optimistic nature made it hard for him to accept the diagnosis, saying, "I saw darkness in his eyes." Their children are also grappling with the emotional impact; son Roy expressed the pain of seeing their father change, stating, "It's not the same father who raised you, the soul is different." Meanwhile, daughter Adi chose to focus on her father's enduring optimism, recalling his motto, "Make lemonade out of lemons," and said the family strives to stay positive as he would want.

The documentary marks the first time the family has openly discussed Berkovich's condition, shedding light on the personal challenges faced by one of Israel's greatest basketball players and a national icon.