What is Alzheimer's disease? Signs and symptoms to know
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who famously landed a plane on the Hudson River in New York City in 2009, has revealed he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Sullenberger is one of several public figures who have shared their Alzheimer's diagnoses in recent months. Others include veteran Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter and longtime actor Danny Glover.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes irreversible damage to the nerve cells in the brain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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The CDC notes Alzheimer's, which impacts approximately 7 million people in the U.S., is the most common form of dementia and the seventh-leading cause of death of adults in the U.S.
The Alzheimer's Association says there are several early warning signs of Alzheimer's, which tend to appear after the age of 60.
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality
The condition is progressive, with nerve cell damage in the brain increasing over time.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, the disease gets worse over time. In later stages, people may lose the ability to hold a conversation. On average, people with Alzheimer's live four to eight years after diagnosis, but they can live as long as 20 years, depending on their situation.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but various treatment options, such as prescription medications, may be available to patients to maintain brain health, delay symptom onset or manage symptoms while improving quality of life, the CDC says.
RELATED | Bill Ritter gives in-depth look into what causes Alzheimer's and what younger people need to know
(ABC News contributed to this report.)
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