Singing sensation Engelbert Humperdinck has spoken openly about his wife’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease in the past and now the 83-year-old has given an update on Patricia’s progress.

Describing his very own “Christmas miracle”, Engelbert – real name Arnold George Dorsey – said his wife of 55 years spoke for the first time in three years recently, having been diagnosed with the incurable brain disease more than a decade ago.

Speaking to UK newspaper The Daily Mirror, he said: “She’s slowly progressing with this complaint of Alzheimer’s. It’s a very difficult disease to cure.”

Engelbert went on to reveal that his wife began to talk “a little bit” thanks to treatment from an acupuncturist doctor who he says has “invented a new machine” which could help the actress to speak again.

He told the Mirror: “She hasn’t spoken for three years, she even called my name three days ago which is wonderful to hear. It’s the best Christmas miracle ever. I’m thrilled.”

The musician previously praised his wife’s incredible strength in an exclusive chat with Starts at 60 last year, saying she’s still fighting and doing incredibly well. He said at the time: “She’s doing okay now. It’s been 10 years now, it’s amazing.”

Patricia, who has four children and eight grandchildren with the music legend, began receiving pioneering treatment in Los Angeles a few years ago, helping her to remember more and continue communicating with her loved ones.

Since then, she has continued to fight the disease and Engelbert receives help from carers and professionals as he cares for her amid his busy work schedule.

“It’s something that has been put upon my shoulders and it’s something you’ve got to handle. I’m caring for her in the best possible way I can,” he said.

Engelbert married Patricia in 1964, three years before he had his first hit with ‘Release Me’. The song went on to famously keep The Beatles’ ‘Penny Lane’ off the top spot in the UK charts at the time.