Police in the Tuscan city of Prato said the man shot his 82-year-old wife, who had Alzheimer's disease, three times in full view of medical staff.

The man told police he did it because he could not stand to see her suffer.

His wife had been diagnosed eight years ago with the degenerative and irreversible brain disorder, which causes dementia and eventually death.

It is estimated that 2-5% of people over 65 years of age and up to 20% of those over 85 suffer from the disease.

The man, whose name has not been released by the police, entered the hospital ward where his wife was being treated at around 1730 on Saturday, according to the Italian newspaper, La Stampa.

He then took out a pistol and shot her twice in the head and once in the chest.

Afterwards, he placed the weapon in the corner of the room and awaited the police, La Stampa reported.