Legendary pilot 'Sully' reveals early-stage Alzheimer's diagnosis: What it means

Captain Chesley Sullenberger, aka Sulley, who shot to fame after piloting a US Airways flight to safety on the Hudson River in 2009, has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The 75-year-old, who revealed the diagnosis through his website, also said that he is currently taking treatment for the condition. He said, "For now, this means a name may not come easily to me, I forget a story I have recently told, or I dont sleep as well, but I am at the beginning of this long journey." 

Sully said that his doctor has educated him that Alzheimer's spares no age group. He explains, "Over the years, when people would ask about the successful outcome of Flight 1549, I would say that 'courage can be contagious,' and on that day, it helped everyone band together to get everyone off that aeroplane successfully. Now we need that courage to battle this disease. I am now part of a larger community with many of you, and we will be courageous together."

In 2016, Tom Hanks starred in the film 'Sully,' directed by Clint Eastwood and based on the life of the legendary pilot. In 2022, Sullenberger briefly served as the US ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organisation based in Montreal. 

What is early-stage Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common reason for dementia, causes brain cells to die over time and the organ to shrink. The disease has no cure. Here are some of its early symptoms according to the Mayo Clinic:
a) Forgetting conversations
b) Forgetting recent events
c) Difficulty in getting the right words during conversations
d) Confusions on places, familiar locations
e) Shift in behaviour
f) Social withdrawal
g) Sudden change in mood
h) Difficulty in doing daily tasks

How to test whether a person has Alzheimer's
A multi-step evaluation is required to check whether a person has Alzheimer's disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, it will include neurological and physical exams to assess a person's hearing, vision, coordination, reflexes, ability to get up from a chair and walk across the room, muscle strength and tone, and balance. Lab tests, which include bloodwork, thyroid disorders and vitamin levels, are also checked.