Elizabeth Clare Prophet, who helped found a religious sect and then warned its followers of an imminent nuclear holocaust, now has told them she has Alzheimer's disease.
Prophet, the spiritual leader of the Church Universal and Triumphant, said in a letter released Wednesday that an "undiagnosed neurological disorder" announced earlier is Alzheimer's disease, which gradually robs its victims of their mental capacities."Even though my illness now has a name, I have not wavered in my determination to continue in my mission to the utmost of my ability," she said.
Prophet, 58, stepped down last year as president of the sect she founded with her former husband. She retained duties as the "messenger" of spiritual entities the church refers to as Ascended Masters.
The church explained at the time that she had epilepsy and an "undiagnosed neurological disorder" that caused her memory loss and difficulties in processing information.