Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, widely regarded as the American hero who landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, has recently opened up about a heartbreaking diagnosis. In a new interview, the 75-year-old aviation safety advocate said that after struggling with his memory for a little over a year, he spoke with a doctor, who informed him he’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Speaking with PEOPLE, Sullenberger said he learned he had Alzheimer’s in August 2025 after realizing he was beginning to forget key details.
While it’s still in the early stages, Sullenberger said the disease has a major impact on his day-to-day.
“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,” he said.
Alzheimer’s affects around 24 million people worldwide, and one in 10 people older than 65 has it, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Since receiving his diagnosis, Sullenberger said he’s been learning just how widespread the disease, which slowly damages your memory, thinking, learning, and organizing skills, really is.
“My doctor, Dr. Gil Rabinovici with UCSF Medical Center, has opened my eyes to the prevalence of Alzheimer’s,” he said, adding that he’s learned the disease “spares no age group.”
Captain Sullenberger’s Wife Opens Up About How Her Husband’s Diagnosis Has Affected Their Family
Despite the diagnosis, Sullenberger’s wife, Lorrie, told PEOPLE that it hasn’t done much to affect his even-keeled demeanor. “Just as he was the same steady person before and after Flight 1549, he is the same steady person now, before and after this diagnosis,” she said.
Lorrie, along with her and Sullenberger’s two daughters and granddaughter, is taking each day one at a time and living with appreciation and gratitude.
“That strength and steadiness is guiding us as a family. 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,” she added.
Captain Sully Sullenberger Wants To Use His Public Profile To Educate And Support Others About The Disease
Since being diagnosed, Sullenberger said his focus has been on learning more about the disease to educate not only himself and his family, but also those dealing with the disorder.
“This new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service,” he said. “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. 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.”
Danny Glover Got Candid About His Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Earlier This Year
Sullenberger isn’t the only public figure using their voice to spread awareness. According to TODAY, actor Danny Glover opened up about his diagnosis earlier this year, revealing that he learned of his status after noticing a change in his speech and memory.
Glover’s daughter, Mandisa Glover, told NBC anchors that part of the reason they wanted to come forward with his story was to help break barriers and remove the shame around the disorder.
“I think it’s really important for him to have control of his own narrative, of his own life story,” she said. “That’s really important. And the time is now. What better time but now for him to speak for himself?”
Mandisa also said that coming forward allows her family to live in their truth. “It’s important because people ask questions sometimes, and I don’t want to be a dishonest person and say, ‘Oh, yeah, everything is all right. It’s all great,’” she added.
Chris Hemsworth Said There’s A Chance He Could Be Diagnosed With The Disease In The Future
In 2022, Marvel actor Chris Hemsworth shared that he has a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease, making him eight to 10 times more likely to develop the disorder in the future.
He wrestled with sharing the news publicly, according to Variety, saying that doing so would reveal some of his deepest fears and insecurities.
While Hemsworth is healthy at the moment, the actor confirmed that his grandfather and father had been diagnosed, prompting him to pull back from Hollywood.
“My appetite for racing forward has really been reined in,” he said. “I’ve become more aware of the fragility of things. You start thinking, ‘My dad won’t be here for ever.’ And my kids are now 11 and 13. Those nights where they’d fight over sleeping in our bed – suddenly they’re not happening any more.”
