David Cassidy is battling dementia

Former teen idol David Cassidy has sadly revealed that he is battling with dementia at the age of 66 and “had sensed it was coming”.

The pop legend sparked concern last weekend when he slurred his words and fell off the stage during a gig in California.

Following the performance, David admitted he is suffering from the early stages of the degenerative disease, which effected his own mother and grandfather.

Speaking to PEOPLE, he said: “I was in denial, but a part of me always knew this was coming.”

The ’70s heartthrob admitted the condition runs in the family and he witnessed his mum Evelyn Ward “disappear” into dementia until she eventually died at the age of 89.

He recalled: “In the end, the only way I knew she recognised me is with one single tear that would drop from her eye every time I walked into the room. … I feared I would end up that way.”

And although it’s taken him a while to come to terms with the disease, David has now decided to stop touring so that he can focus on his health and happiness.

He explained to the publication: “I want to focus on what I am, who I am and how I’ve been without any distractions,” he says. “I want to love. I want to enjoy life.”

David hasn’t had the easiest of times over the years as he was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in November 2010 and committed the same crime in August 2013 and January 2014.

Around the same time of his second DUI charge, David’s wife Sue Shifrin-Cassidy, with whom he has 25-year-old son Beau, ended their marriage.

She filed for divorce later that year and he declared himself bankrupt in 2015.

David has also been very open about his battle with substance abuse and even did a stint in rehab in 2014 in a bid to beat his demons once and for all.