Captain Chelsey “Sulley” Sullenberger announced that he was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Sullenberg, 75, was the pilot who safely landed a plane with 150 passengers and five crew members in New York’s Hudson River after the US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of geese in 2009.
“I recently found out that I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. It is early stage. For now, this means a name may not come easily to me, I forget a story I have recently told, or I don’t sleep as well, but I am in the beginning of this long journey,” Sullenberg wrote in a statement released on Tuesday.
The former pilot said he is approaching his Alzheimer’s journey with the same courage and determination that helped him during the successful emergency landing of Flight 1549.
Sullenberg said that “courage can be contagious,” as it helped passengers, crew members, and first responders work together to bring everyone to safety.
He now hopes to carry that same courage as he faces the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease, saying he is part of a larger community that’s facing the same illness together.
“Now we need that courage to battle this disease. I am now part of a larger community with many of you, and we will be courageous together.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately 7.4 million people aged 65 or older are living with clinical Alzheimer’s dementia, with three-quarters of them affecting people aged 75 and older.
What Early Alzheimer’s Symptoms Can Look Like
While occasional forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging, Alzheimer’s disease causes changes in memory, thinking, and behavior that gradually interfere with everyday life.
Early symptoms can include difficulty remembering recently learned information, repeating questions or conversations, struggling to find the right words, losing track of dates or appointments, and having trouble completing familiar tasks.
The symptoms Sullenberger described, difficulty recalling names, repeating stories, and disrupted sleep, are among the changes doctors may consider when evaluating possible cognitive decline. However, experiencing one or more of these symptoms does not necessarily mean someone has Alzheimer’s disease.
Normal aging can sometimes involve occasional memory lapses, such as forgetting where you placed your keys or briefly struggling to remember a name. More concerning signs are memory changes that become frequent, worsen over time, or interfere with a person’s ability to manage daily responsibilities.
How Alzheimer’s Differs From Normal Aging
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects areas of the brain involved in memory, communication, and reasoning. Unlike typical age-related forgetfulness, Alzheimer’s symptoms tend to become more persistent and disruptive.
Experts recommend seeking medical advice when memory changes begin affecting everyday activities, relationships or independence. A health care provider may use cognitive tests, medical history, brain imaging, and laboratory tests to determine whether symptoms are linked to Alzheimer’s or another condition.
Early diagnosis can give patients and families more time to understand the disease, plan for future care, and explore available treatment options.
Alzheimer’s Treatments Aim to Slow Progression
Although there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, treatments are available that may help manage symptoms or slow the progression of the disease in some patients.
The Food and Drug Administration approved new therapies designed to target amyloid plaques, a protein buildup in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s.
Medications such as Leqembi (lecanemab) and Kisunla (donanemab) are approved for certain individuals with early Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s.
These treatments are not a cure, but clinical trials have shown they may slow cognitive decline for eligible patients. Doctors also emphasize the importance of lifestyle factors that support brain health, including regular physical activity, a balanced diet, quality sleep, social engagement, and management of conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Why Sullenberger’s Diagnosis Matters
Alzheimer’s can affect people from all walks of life, including those who have spent their careers demonstrating exceptional focus and problem-solving abilities.
By publicly sharing his diagnosis, the former pilot is helping raise awareness about the importance of recognizing early symptoms and seeking medical support.
Sullenberger’s Alzheimer’s journey is another challenge he hopes to face with the same determination that guided him through the Hudson River landing 17 years ago.
