Sully Sullenberger Discusses Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Retired pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger has spoken publicly about his early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis, describing memory difficulties and monthly infusion treatment intended to slow the disease’s progression. He and his wife, Lorrie, said they decided to discuss the diagnosis in hopes of helping others and encouraging more open conversation about the disease. Sullenberger, 75, discussed his experience with his wife and daughter Kelly in an interview with Robin Roberts. He said he first disclosed the diagnosis in a July post on his website. In the interview, he described having trouble recalling people’s names, repeating stories without realizing he had already told them and relying more on a calendar or planner to keep track of commitments. Lorrie Sullenberger said the early changes were minor and easy to dismiss. She noted that people may be more familiar with symptoms associated with later stages of Alzheimer’s and said what matters is noticing changes that are unusual for the individual. The family’s accounts describe Sullenberger’s symptoms and diagnosis; no medical records or independent clinical assessment were included in the reporting.