Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles and Ray Wilson have been diagnosed with the condition amid fears it was caused by years of heading heavy footballs.
Almost 50 years ago Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles and Ray Wilson were revelling in the glory of England’s finest footballing moments as they lifted the World Cup for the first time.
But the brave trio are now battling to live with devastating Alzheimer's – feared to have been linked to decades of heading traditional heavy leather case balls.
And there are concerns they may miss the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the moment Sir Alf Ramsey's ecstatic squad lifted the Jules Rimet trophy after beating West Germany 4-2 at Wembley.
Their families and friends fear the onset of Alzheimer's may have been brought on by heading the old-style heavy footballs day in day out in training and on match days.
Neuroscientist Dr Michael Grey said that persistent “microdamage” caused to the brain can result in dementia and called for more research.
Ray, 81 , was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2004, Martin, 72 , three years ago and 73-year-old Nobby four years ago.
Former team-mate Jackie Charlton has also told how he is suffering from memory loss.
And Sir Alf had the disease in the years before his death at 79 in 1999.
World Cup winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks said: "It's horrible, all this Alzheimer's.
"It makes you wonder if it is anything to do with the footballs.
"We played with balls that are a lot heavier than they are now, with all that leather in.
"These guys had to practise heading those balls day in, day out, for years over the course of their careers.
"As a team we remain great friends and have kept in touch, but it is getting harder to meet up with some of the guys now because they are not well.
"We have all been looking forward to the 50th anniversary and we want to celebrate it together.
"I know some of the guys have been struggling but I hope they or their wives can come.”
Martin, the youngest surviving member of Alf Ramsey’s World Cup winning team, has deteriorated rapidly since he was diagnosed.
The former West Ham and Tottenham star lives in Essex and still goes to all the Hammers’ home games at Upton Park in East London with family.
His daughter's partner Mark Lovett is in no doubt the leather balls caused his condition.
He said: "They were so heavy, especially when wet.
"And players like Pele and Bobby Charlton could hit them so hard it was like being struck by a boxing glove.
"It would leave you seeing stars.
"It's no wonder it did damage.”
Ray was the oldest member of the cup team.
Until now, his family have not spoken about his illness.
But wife Pat, 78, who devotes her life to caring for him, said he has been in a steady decline over the past 12 years.
She added: “There are people he played with at Huddersfield and Everton with Alzheimer's.
“They are all over.
“They have talked about heading the leather ball causing it.”
Former Manchester United midfielder Nobby, also battling prostate cancer, is too ill to attend the team’s annual reunion, where the men play golf and the women shop before they all gather for dinner.
Speaking for the first time about his dad’s condition, son John said: “It’s a real shame he can’t go to the get together any more because he loved going.
"He loved the camaraderie they had.
"That is what made them so special.
"But unfortunately, like so many who played in that era and headed those heavy balls, my father has now got dementia .
"Many other players have some sort of degenerative brain disease."
Former central defender Jackie went on to manage Ireland.
Doctors became concerned about his memory two years ago after he had a hip replacement.
Things got so bad he was ordered to stop driving and is no longer allowed to go fishing alone, his favourite hobby.
Speaking from his home near Newcastle, 80-year-old Jackie said: "I haven't got a memory now, I forget things easily."
Former ’66 player George Cohen added: "It's absolutely dreadful what they are going through.
This disease takes so much away from them.
"When you look at the number of my contemporaries who have Alzhiemer's, it seems rather coincidental.
"I would be shocked if there wasn't a link to heading the ball."
Professional Footballers’ Association deputy chief John Bramhall said: "We are sorry to hear some of those players who shared in one of the proudest moments in English football history are suffering.
"It is a tragic illness."
The FA added: "We are sad to hear this story.
"We support various initiatives and are working with the National Football Museum where funding will directly help those affected by the condition."
Martin, Ray, Nobby and Jack were in the team that walked out on to the Wembley turf on July 30, 1966, led by captain Bobby Moore, to face West Germany in what was to be the most controversial final ever.
A crowd of almost 100,000 and 32 million British TV viewers watched England go 1-0 down before goals from Geoff Hurst and Peters made the score 2-2 at 90 minutes.
In extra time, Hurst hit the bar before the ball bounced on the ground.
Many in the crowd and the opposition team were unsure if it crossed the line.
But Soviet linesman Tofiq Bahramov declared it did and the goal stood.
Seconds before the final whistle, Hurst became a hat-trick hero and sent the crowd wild.
It sparked BBC commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme’s famous declaration: "Some people are on the pitch, they think it's all over.
"It is now."
