Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the retired airline pilot celebrated worldwide for safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 on New York's Hudson River in 2009, recently shared that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Chesley Sullenberger’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis The 75-year-old aviation hero, whose calmness and composure saved all the 155 passengers and crew during what became known as the "Miracle on the Hudson," shared the news in a public statement released on July 14. He said that he wanted to share his diagnosis to reduce the stigma surrounding the disease. "I recently found out I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. It is early stage," Chesley Sullenberger said. Describing the early effects of the condition, he added, "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." According to recent, Sullenberger began noticing subtle memory lapses in 2025 before seeking medical intervention. He later received an Alzheimer's diagnosis and is now under specialist care. Despite the diagnosis, Sullenberger emphasized that he remains hopeful and intends to continue living a meaningful life with the support of his family. "I've spent my life trying to be of service to others," he said, adding that sharing his diagnosis is another opportunity to help people navigating the disease.Also read: Your Country May Influence Your Dementia Risk More Than You Think, Study Suggests Sullenberger Compared His Famous Landing To Alzheimer’s Sullenberger also drew a parallel between the courage required during the emergency landing in 2009 and the resilience needed to battle Alzheimer's disease. "It takes courage to face a challenge like this," he said, expressing confidence that, just as people came together during the Hudson River rescue, families, caregivers and researchers can unite in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Chesley Sullenberger’s Landing On The Hudson River Sullenberger became an aviation hero after US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport on January 15, 2009. With both engines disabled, he safely landed the Airbus A320 on the Hudson River, allowing every passenger and crew member to survive. The extraordinary incident inspired the 2016 film Sully, starring Tom Hanks. Following his retirement from commercial aviation in 2010, Sullenberger remained active as an aviation safety advocate, author and public speaker.Also read: Indian Scientists Create 3D Brainstem Atlas That Can Help Understand Parkinson’s, Sleep Disorders & Stroke Better Public Figures Who Recently Revealed Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Sullenberger’s announcement comes as Alzheimer's disease continues to pose a growing public health challenge. He is one of the public figures who recently shared their Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Before Sullenberger, veteran BBC Radio 2 presenter Paul Gambaccini also shared that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2025. Despite the diagnosis, he said he plans to continue broadcasting while he is able and wants to raise awareness about the disease. Oscar-nominated actor Danny Glover revealed he has been living with Alzheimer's disease for several years after receiving a diagnosis in 2022. What Is Alzheimer’s Disease? The condition is the most common cause of dementia and gradually affects memory, thinking and the ability to carry out everyday activities. Here are the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease: Frequent memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned informationDifficulty finding the right words during conversationsConfusion about time or familiar placesTrouble planning or solving routine problemsMisplacing belongings and being unable to retrace stepsChanges in mood, personality or behaviourPoor judgment and reduced decision-making ability As the disease progresses, individuals may struggle to recognize loved ones, communicate effectively, and carry out daily activities independently. While there is currently no cure, newer treatments and supportive care may help slow progression in some patients when the disease is detected early.