Sully Sullenberger shares early warning signs prior to Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the former airline pilot celebrated worldwide for safely landing US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009, is taking on a new mission to raise awareness about the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

Sullenberger, who was diagnosed with the disease in August 2025, spoke on “Good Morning America” alongside his wife, Lorrie, to share their personal experience with the condition.

The couple revealed several subtle shifts in routine and behavior that began surfacing several years before he received an official medical evaluation.

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Reflecting on the timeline leading up to her husband’s formal assessment, Lorrie Sullenberger noted that small adjustments in everyday life slowly pointed toward a bigger shift.

“A lot of what I think people see in the news are late-stage Alzheimer’s symptoms. And, so, in the very beginning, they are so subtle. And my advice to someone would be, it’s what’s unusual for your person,” she shared, emphasizing how early symptoms often manifest gradually rather than abruptly.

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Public understanding of Alzheimer’s disease frequently focuses on these late-stage symptoms, such as pronounced memory loss, severe disorientation or difficulty managing basic daily routines. However, medical experts say early-stage cognitive decline can be much harder to spot.

“One of the first things I noticed was that it was harder and harder to remember people’s names, even people we knew,” Sullenberger said. “That’s still an issue. Just forgetting things that I normally wouldn’t. Or repeating myself, not realizing that I just said that an hour ago.”

Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease in August 2025 and is advocating for prompt testing for the first sign of cognitive changes. (Chip Somodevilla/Reuters)

Early indicators of Alzheimer’s often present as mild cognitive impairment or subtle changes tailored to an individual’s normal baseline, according to health resources like the Cleveland Clinic.

These can include misplacing everyday items, mild difficulty finding the right words during conversations, subtle changes in mood or executive function or taking slightly longer to complete familiar tasks.

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Because these early shifts often mimic normal signs of aging, loved ones are usually the first to notice small anomalies in behavior.

“I’ve gone through harder things than this before,” Sullenberger said in the interview.

Lorrie Sullenberger emphasized that the key to spotting early cognitive decline is identifying changes that are “unusual for your person,” rather than waiting for obvious late-stage symptoms. (Dave Kotinsky/FilmMagic)

The former pilot may be best known for successfully performing the “Miracle on the Hudson” in January 2009. 

After US Airways Flight 1549 suffered a dual engine failure after a bird strike shortly after taking off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport, Sullenberger drew on decades of flight experience to glide the Airbus A320 onto the frigid Hudson River, where all 155 passengers and crew survived, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

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The emergency landing made Sullenberger an internationally recognized public figure and became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

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Lorrie Sullenberger noted that family members should trust their instincts when something feels off, advising that the key lies in identifying “what’s unusual for your person.”

“I’ve gone through harder things than this before.”

The Sullenbergers stressed that acknowledging potential early symptoms and seeking evaluation can profoundly impact a patient’s journey. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, early detection allows individuals and families to explore emerging treatment options, join clinical trials, adopt lifestyle modifications and plan for the future.

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“An early diagnosis is so critically important,” Sullenberger said. “If you have doubts, get tested. Because the sooner you act, the more options there are, the better the outcome is likely to be.”