6:19pm UK, Thursday July 01, 2004

The actor who played Scotty in TV's Star Trek has Alzheimer's disease.

James Doohan, 84, also has Parkinson's disease, diabetes, lung fibrosis and suffered a bout of pneumonia.

James Doohan - Scotty

His Wife Wende,47, said: "With Jimmy it's the loss of words. He is not so sick yet that he doesn't know people.

"And there are times when he is as sharp as a tack. But it's the older memories that stick.

"What he had for breakfast might be an iffy thing, but golly he could tell you all about how he got the part in Star Trek."

Jimmy's character was told on the US Enterprise: "Beam Me Up Scotty."

A tribute to the actor is to take place in Hollywood next month.