Overview
- Sullenberger posted a statement on his website that was shared with media on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, saying he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s and is at the start of what he called a long journey.
- He described current symptoms as relatively mild, including trouble finding names, forgetting recently told stories, and disrupted sleep, and said he has begun medical treatment and planning next steps with his family and physicians.
- Sullenberger said Dr. Gil Rabinovici of UCSF Medical Center made the diagnosis and helped him understand how common Alzheimer’s is; he learned of the diagnosis in August 2025 and waited before deciding to speak publicly.
- The announcement frames his next chapter as an extension of public service and was couched in the context of his widely known 2009 Hudson River landing, his aviation-safety advocacy and his recent role as U.S. ambassador to ICAO.
- Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease with no cure that affects millions, and Sullenberger said he hopes his disclosure will reduce stigma, prompt more families to seek help and increase public attention to care and planning needs.