Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 30, 2025 · Entertainment

Stephen King Reveals Dementia Fears: Could This Be His Last Book?

Widely renowned as one of the world's most successful authors in a career spanning nearly 60 years, Stephen King, 77 (pictured) has made millions of dollars from his popular stories filled with his trademark 'dread and wonder'

Stephen King's Dark Secret: The Horror Author Reveals His Dementia Fears and a Heart-Pounding Admission

In a shocking revelation, bestselling author Stephen King has come clean about his deepest fears - the prospect of succumbing to dementia. The 77-year-old master of horror, known for weaving tales that send chills down our spines, is now facing the dark reality of aging.

King, who has penned some of the most iconic horror novels in literature, including "The Shining" and "Misery," recently sat down with The Times to discuss his anxieties about dementia. He revealed that every time he struggles to remember a word or a phrase, he panics, thinking: "'This is the start.'"

Now, ahead of his new adaptation set to hit theatres next month, the 77-year-old writer has revealed his deep anxieties around suffering from dementia, stating that he is 'afraid of that happening to me'

His candid confession comes over a decade after the tragic passing of British fantasy author Terry Pratchett, who battled Alzheimer's for years before succumbing to the disease in 2015 at the age of 66. King, a close friend and admirer of Pratchett, has always been deeply moved by his fellow writer's courage and determination.

A Fearsome Author Confronts His Own Mortality

As one of the world's most renowned authors, with a career spanning nearly six decades, King is no stranger to the darkness that lurks within human hearts. His stories have captivated readers worldwide, and his fear of dementia has undoubtedly been fueled by his own experiences as a storyteller.

Mr King has also revealed that his next book could be his last to hit the shelves, adding that in the future he 'might' continue writing for his own enjoyment, but described it as 'creepy' imagining a scenario whether somebody else may publish his work in future

In a candid interview, King revealed that he writes up to 1,200 words a day, six or seven days a week. When asked about his writing future, he responded: "I have at least one more book that I would like to write, and beyond that, man, I'm not going to say... I'd like to go out where people say, 'I'd like another one.'"

The beloved author's comments raise an intriguing question: will King continue to pen his signature brand of horror as his mind succumbs to the creeping shadows of dementia? Only time will tell.

A New Horror Adaptation Set to Haunt Theaters

Mr King's next book, a retelling of the classic tale 'Hansel and Gretel', is set to be released on September 2. When questioned if he will continue to write in the future, Mr King told The Times: 'I have at least one more book that I would like to write'

As King grapples with his fears, a new adaptation of his 1979 novel "The Long Walk" is set to hit theaters next month. This dystopian thriller follows a group of teenage boys who compete in an annual walking contest with deadly consequences - the last person standing walks away with a cash prize... and their life.

In a recent screening of the film, moviegoers' heart rates were recorded at over 200 beats per minute, which can be considered "hazardous" outside of extreme exercise. The average human heart rate is around 70 to 80 beats per minute, but these viewers' hearts pounded like those of a fighter pilot under intense G-force.

A Career Spanning Almost Six Decades

Mr King's fears come more than 10 years after the tragic death of British fantasy author Terry Pratchett (pictured), who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2007. Mr Pratchett  passed away aged 66 having sold more than 85million books worldwide

With a career spanning nearly six decades, King's impact on the literary world cannot be overstated. His iconic novels have been adapted into numerous films and TV series, including "Carrie," "The Shawshank Redemption," and "It." His latest adaptation, "The Institute," premiered on MGM+ in early July.

A Family Affair: The Stand Gets a Theatrical Makeover

Doug Liman is set to direct the theatrical adaptation of King's epic post-apocalyptic novel, "The Stand." This classic tale centers around factions of people trying to survive after a deadly pandemic. With its themes of chaos and anarchy, this new adaptation promises to be as thrilling as it is terrifying.

A new adaptation of Mr King's 1979 novel The Long Walk, is set to be released on September 12. The award-winning dystopian thriller novel follows a group of teenage boys who compete in an annual walking contest with deadly consequences

Amazon Prime and Netflix Take on King's Classics

Meanwhile, Amazon Prime has announced plans to turn King's iconic novel "Carrie" into a series. The news sparked controversy among fans, who are still reeling from the recent Netflix reboot of King's classic horror tale, "Cujo." One can't help but wonder: what will these new adaptations bring to the table?

King Stirs Controversy with Epstein Comments

The award-winning dystopian thriller novel follows a group of teenage boys who compete in an annual walking contest with deadly consequences. The boys must maintain walking at a certain speed or get shot, with the last person standing walking away with a cash prize - and their life

In July, King sparked backlash on social media after sharing a post about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In an attempt to downplay the significance of Epstein's client list, King compared it to mythical figures like the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus. His comments were met with outrage from fans, who felt his remarks were insensitive.

In a special 'biometrics screening' of the upcoming film held recently, moviegowers' heart rates were found to have been pushed to over 200 beats per minute, which can be considered 'hazardous' outside of extremely intense exercise

It acts as just one of a number of adaptations of Mr King's famous horror books made in recent years, including The Monkey (1980), a Salem's Lot (1975) remake, alongside The Boogeyman (1973)

Released in 1978, Mr King's epic post-apocalyptic novel centers on factions of people trying to survive after a deadly pandemic. The lengthy tome was acclaimed by critics and went on to become one of the author's bestselling books

It was then revived once again by CBS in 2020 (pictured) as a nine-episode limited series starring James Marsden, Alexander Skarsgård, Whoopi Goldberg, Amber Heard. Liman's upcoming version will be the first time that The Stand has been adapted theatrically

In July, Mr King sparked backlash from his followers on X (formerly Twitter) after sharing a condescending post about convicted sex offender Epstein