NRK Asia correspondent reveals incurable neurological diagnosis

NRK’s Asia correspondent Philip Lote has publicly disclosed for the first time that he has been living with hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP), an incurable neurological condition, after keeping the diagnosis private for four years.

In an interview aired during NRK’s Urix program, Lote revealed he received the diagnosis in 2022 but chose to conceal it as symptoms worsened. The program, recorded this week and set to broadcast on Tuesday, gathers NRK’s foreign correspondents to share personal and professional experiences from their postings abroad.

Lote told Aftenposten that colleagues had long suspected something was wrong before he spoke openly about the condition. “Many realized there was something off long before I said anything,” he said.

The disease, which causes progressive muscle stiffness and weakness—particularly in the legs—has forced Lote to confront uncertainties about his future in journalism, a career he has dedicated his life to. “I chose TV work because, after overcoming dyslexia as a child, it felt safer than writing,” he told Aftenposten. “Now I fear losing the ability to use my voice.”

Beyond physical challenges, Lote admitted to deeper anxieties. “Yes, I’m afraid there might be something else the doctors haven’t found. I’m afraid of everything, really—especially that it will progress faster.”

While posted in Beijing with his family, Lote explored alternative treatments, including acupuncture and traditional Chinese massage, though no cure exists for HSP. The condition affects an estimated 500–600 people in Norway and does not reduce life expectancy, but symptoms worsen over time. Management focuses on physiotherapy and symptom relief.

Despite the diagnosis, Lote has continued in his demanding role, covering conflicts and political developments across Asia for over two decades. A veteran correspondent, he previously served in Beijing from 2003 to 2007 before returning in 2021 after postings in Brussels and a brief period outside NRK. His reporting has centered on Chinese politics, regional conflicts, and great-power rivalry.