AceShowbiz - "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson, 78, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and a blood disease, according to his family. The news was revealed in the Friday, December 6 episode of their "Unashamed with the Robertson Family" podcast.

Robertson's son, Jase, opened the episode by explaining that the family patriarch's health has declined significantly in recent years due to the blood disease, which doctors believe is the underlying cause of his symptoms. "He has early stages of Alzheimer's," Jase revealed. "It's accelerated and causing a lot of problems with his entire body. He's really struggling."

Despite his condition, Robertson still has "good days and bad days," according to his son, Al. "There'll be some days [where] he's a little better, he's a little more with you, and other days not so much," Al said.

Robertson has been notably absent from the family's podcast lately due to his declining health. "He keeps saying, 'I'm gonna get back to the podcast,' " Jase shared. "But I'm like, 'Well, Phil, you can barely walk around without crying out in pain.' " Jase also noted that his father's memory loss has become more apparent. "I was like, 'Your memory is not what it once was,'" Jase said. "And he was like, 'Tell me about it.'"

Robertson has lost a significant amount of weight despite eating well, adding to his health concerns. "He just can't retain weight, he keeps losing weight, and he's just not able to do much," Jase added.

Despite the challenges presented by Robertson's diagnosis, his family is committed to supporting him and finding ways to make him more comfortable. "We're trying to figure out how to help him with his memory," Al said.

Robertson's family drew inspiration from former President Ronald Reagan, who also struggled with Alzheimer's disease. Al recalled seeing Reagan's handwritten letter announcing his diagnosis and finding solace in knowing that his father was experiencing a similar journey.