Capt. Sully breaks silence about Alzheimer’s diagnosis – Search
Chesley Burnett Sullenberger III was born January 23, 1951, in Denison, Texas.[11] His father was a descendant of Swiss-German immigrants named Sollenberger (modern spelling is Sollberger) from Wynigen, Switzerland.[12] He has one younger sister, Mary.[13] The street on which he grew up was named after his mother’s family.
According to his sister, Sullenberger built model planes and aircraft carriers during his childhood; she says he became interested in flying after seeing military jets from an Air Force base near his house.[14] He went to school in Denison and was consistently on the 99th percentile in every academic category.[15]
At age 11, his IQ was deemed high enough that he was allowed to join Mensa International.[15] In high school, he was the president of the Latin club, a first chair flutist, and an honor student.[16] He was an active member of the Waples Memorial United Methodist Church.[17] He graduated from Denison High School in 1969,[16] near the top of his class of about 350.[14] At 16, Sullenberger learned to fly in an Aeronca Champion 7DC at a private airstrip near his home. He said that the training he received from a local flight instructor influenced his aviation career.[18]
Sullenberger earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and basic sciences from the United States Air Force Academy. He earned a master’s degree in industrial-organizational psychology from Purdue University in 1973 and a Master of Public Administration from University of Northern Colorado in 1979.[19]
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, the pilot who performed the “Miracle on the Hudson” in 2009, revealed on Tuesday that doctors have diagnosed him with Alzheimer’s disease. He learned of the diagnosis in August 2025, according to People. “It is early stage,” he told the magazine. “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.”
The first signs that something was wrong, Sully said, was when he noticed he’d started forgetting things, since he once had a photographic memory. Sullenberger’s wife, Lorrie, told People that Sully remained focused. “That strength and steadiness is guiding us as a family,” she said. “We’re supporting him on this journey that we now walk with so many other families. Though the future is uncertain, we continue to live our lives, have hope, and find joy in the everyday.”
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who famously landed a plane in the Hudson River in 2009, said he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The 75-year-old Sullenberger announced the news Tuesday on his website, saying the disease is in its early stages.
“So this new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service. And the answer is to speak up. It is my hope that by sharing this, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they too can step forward,” Sullenberger said.
How All Passengers Survived the Miracle on the Hudson
“And about hope – so many people told us after Flight 1549, that the outcome gave them hope. Lorrie, my incredible partner of 37 years, says we can all use a little of that hope right now.”
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills and eventually the ability to carry out everyday tasks. There is no known cure.
Sullenberger said right now, his symptoms are relatively mild — a name doesn’t come as easily, he forgets a story he has recently told and he doesn’t sleep as well. But he added he is in talks with his doctors about next steps and is planning for the future.
Sullenberger is best known for safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 on New York’s Hudson River in 2009 after a bird strike disabled both engines. All 155 people on board survived, and the emergency landing became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”
A retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, Sullenberger was widely praised for his calm decision-making and aviation expertise, earning international recognition and numerous honors. He later wrote several books, became an aviation safety advocate and public speaker, and served as the U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization from 2022 to 2025.
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On January 15, 2009, Sullenberger was the captain of US Airways Flight 1549, an Airbus A320 taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York City bound for Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.[34] Shortly after takeoff, the plane struck a flock of Canada geese and lost power in both engines.[35] Quickly determining he would be unable to reach either LaGuardia or Teterboro Airports,[36] Sullenberger flew the plane to an emergency water landing[23] on the Hudson River. All 155 people on board survived and were rescued.[37]
Sullenberger said later: “It was very quiet as we worked, my copilot Jeff Skiles and I. We were a team. But to have zero thrust coming out of those engines was shocking—the silence.”[38] Sullenberger was the last to leave the aircraft, after twice making sweeps through the cabin to make sure all passengers and crew had evacuated.[14][39]
Sullenberger, described by friends as “shy and reticent”,[40] was noted for his poise and calm during the crisis; New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg dubbed him “Captain Cool”.[41] Nonetheless, Sullenberger suffered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in subsequent weeks, including sleeplessness and flashbacks.[42] He said that the moments before the landing were “the worst sickening, pit-of-your-stomach, falling-through-the-floor feeling” that he had ever experienced.[43]
Sully landed US Airways Flight 1549 after a bird flew into an engine, stopping it, on the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey. That act saved the lives of 155 passengers and crew. Tom Hanks portrayed Sully in the 2016 biopic Sully. “This new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service,” Sully told People. “And the answer is to speak up. It is my hope that by sharing this, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they too can step forward.”
Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, 75, has spoken publicly for the first time about his August 2025 Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, sharing that subtle changes in memory and routine were the first signs
Early signs he noticed
In interviews with Good Morning America and other outlets, Sullenberger said the first things he noticed were:
- Difficulty remembering people’s names, even those he knew well
- Forgetting things he normally wouldn’t
- Repeating himself without realizing it
- Relying daily on his calendar to keep track of commitments
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His wife, Lorrie Sullenberger, said these small changes were “easy to dismiss” at first, as many people expect severe memory loss only in later stages 
Diagnosis and treatment
Sullenberger received the diagnosis in August 2025 and publicly announced it in July 2026
He is currently undergoing monthly infusion treatments aimed at slowing, but not stopping, the disease’s progression
The National Institute on Aging notes that early symptoms vary and can be caused by other conditions, so a full medical evaluation is essential
His approach and advice
Drawing parallels to his 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” emergency landing, Sullenberger said he is “focusing clearly on the highest priority items first” and ignoring distractions 
Family’s decision to speak out
Initially, the couple planned to keep the diagnosis private, but Lorrie encouraged openness, saying, “This is a disease, not a character flaw”
They hope their story will help others recognize early warning signs and avoid feeling isolated.
Key takeaway: Sullenberger’s experience underscores that Alzheimer’s often begins with small, overlooked changes. Early detection can open more treatment and planning options, and he encourages anyone with doubts to seek professional evaluation
Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III is speaking out about his early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis to help other families catch the early warning signs of the disease.
The 75-year-old retired pilot became a national hero after saving 155 people in 2009 in what became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson”. This week, Sullenberger and his wife of 37 years, Lorrie, sat down with Good Morning America this week to discuss their new reality.
After initially planning to keep his August 2025 diagnosis a secret, the couple decided to share their experience publicly so others going through the same thing wouldn’t feel isolated. “Initially, like a lot of families, we were not going to tell,” Lorrie told Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts. “And I said to Sully one day, ‘This is a disease, not a character flaw. I think we need to talk about it more openly, and maybe other people can do the same.'”
Catching the Early Signs
The first indicators of his cognitive decline were so minor that the couple almost brushed them off.
“One of the first things I noticed was that it was harder and harder to remember people’s names, even people we knew,” Sullenberger said. “That’s still an issue. Just forgetting things that I normally wouldn’t. Or repeating myself, not realizing that I just said that an hour ago.”
Lorrie explained that most people expect to see severe memory loss when they think of dementia, making these small behavioral shifts easy to overlook. “They were so little that it was easy to dismiss in the beginning,” she said. Lorrie advised families to watch for tiny changes in routine and pay close attention to any behavior that feels out of the ordinary for their partner.
“If you have doubts, get tested,” he added. “Because the sooner you act, the more options there are.”
Facing the Future Together
Sullenberger said he views his treatment as a strict plan that requires him to cut out distractions and focus solely on what matters most. “We’re focusing clearly on the highest-priority items first, and we are ignoring everything we don’t have time to do as being only distractions and unimportant,” he said.
Despite his pragmatic approach, he openly worries about the “inevitable” toll his decline will take on Lorrie as she steps into the role of primary caregiver. “I do worry about you as the caregiver,” he told her during the interview. “And I know what a burden caregivers have. I know it’s going to be a thing, and I’m very aware of it.”
Sullenberger hopes his transparency can help destigmatize the disease. Just as he pushed for flight safety after the Hudson River crash, he wants to use his public platform to advocate for families dealing with dementia.
“I felt like after the 2009 flight that [co-pilot] Jeff Skiles and I and others had made a difference,” he said.
“And I think in this regard, with this issue, maybe we can make a difference in this way also.”
Symptoms of Late-Stage Dementia in Men and Women
Late-stage dementia (also called end-stage dementia) is the final, most severe stage of the disease, and its symptoms are generally the same in men and women — differences are more related to individual health, age, and comorbidities than to gender 
Core Symptoms in Late Stage
By this stage, severe cognitive decline, physical impairment, and loss of independence are common, regardless of sex 
Dementia Patients Want to Go Home – Search they are often seeking comfort and familiarity rather than a literal location, and the best response is to validate their feelings and gently redirect attention.
Understanding the Behavior
When a person with dementia repeatedly expresses a desire to go home, it usually reflects emotional needs rather than a literal wish to leave. The hippocampus and parietal lobes, which handle memory and spatial awareness, are often damaged in dementia, causing disorientation and difficulty recognizing familiar surroundings 
“Home” may represent a feeling of safety, comfort, and belonging, or a memory of a time when life felt secure, rather than a specific address 
This can include childhood homes, previous residences, or periods of life before illness or loss Elder Guru.
Effective Caregiver Responses
- Validate the Emotion
Avoid arguing or trying to correct the patient. Instead, acknowledge their feelings:
“You miss home, don’t you? Tell me about it.” This helps the person feel heard and reduces anxiety - Gently Redirect Attention
Once the emotion is acknowledged, shift focus to familiar or comforting activities, such as looking at a photo album, listening to a favorite song, or engaging in a simple task like folding laundry - Reassure Safety and Comfort
Use verbal reassurance and gentle touch if appropriate. Let them know they are safe and cared for in the present momentAlzheimer’s Society+1.
- Understanding Triggers
Requests to go home can be amplified by sundowning, overstimulation, or unfamiliar environments. Reducing noise, maintaining routines, and providing familiar cues can help prevent distress - Explore the Meaning of “Home”
Sometimes “home” refers to a past routine or a period of life when they felt happy. Encouraging conversation about these memories can provide insight into their emotional needs and help caregivers respond empathetically
Key Takeaways
- The phrase “I want to go home” is not stubbornness or attention-seeking; it is a signal of emotional distress and a need for reassurance
- Validation, gentle redirection, and reassurance are more effective than trying to orient the patient to reality.
- Understanding the emotional and neurological basis of this behavior allows caregivers to respond with compassion, reduce anxiety, and improve the patient’s sense of security and well-being
By focusing on the feelings behind the words and providing comfort, caregivers can help dementia patients feel safe and supported, even when their perception of “home” is rooted in memory rather than the present environment.
- Cognitive and communication changes
- Severe memory loss, including inability to recognize close family, friends, or familiar places
- Loss of language skills; may only understand a few words or their native childhood language
- Disorientation to time and place; “time shifting” (believing they are in an earlier life stage)
- Possible hallucinations or delusions Medical News Today.
- Severe memory loss, including inability to recognize close family, friends, or familiar places
- Physical decline
- Need for full-time assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, and toileting
- Reduced mobility; may be bed bound
- Weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration
- Frequent infections, especially aspiration pneumonia
- Changes in breathing patterns (e.g., Cheyne–Stokes respiration)
- Need for full-time assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, and toileting
- Behavioral and sleep changes
- Increased sleepiness; may sleep most of the day
- Agitation, confusion, or withdrawal Medical News Today.
- Loss of ability to respond to familiar voices or touch
- Increased sleepiness; may sleep most of the day
Gender Considerations
While the clinical picture is similar in men and women, some research notes:
- Early-onset dementia is more common in women, but late-stage symptoms are not inherently different
Sunflower Communities.
- Men may have higher rates of certain vascular or mixed dementias, which can influence physical decline patterns Medical News Today, but these are not universal.
- Hormonal, genetic, and comorbidity differences can affect disease course, but core late-stage signs — loss of independence, severe cognitive impairment, and physical decline — are shared
Prognosis
Late-stage dementia often lasts 1–2 years on average before death
In summary: Whether in men or women, late-stage dementia is marked by profound cognitive loss, inability to perform basic self-care, severe physical decline, and behavioral changes. Gender does not change the fundamental symptom profile, though individual health factors can influence the course.
Doctors say dementia is a decline in thinking abilities that interferes with daily activities, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form. A Lancet study estimated that 45% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed by lifestyle changes. Exercise, the Mediterranean way of eating, social connection and daily brain challenges are among the habits that may help. Early Morning Sunshine and Nature, Protecting hearing, getting seven hours of sleep, checking vitamin levels and keeping up with oral health also matter.
SOURCE: Capt. Sully reveals that his first symptoms of Alzheimer’s were ‘so little, it was easy to dismiss’
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