曾在2009年将一架飞机降落在纽约市哈德逊河的机长切斯利“萨利”苏伦伯格透露，他被诊断患有阿尔茨海默病。
“我最近发现自己被诊断出患有老年痴呆症。75岁的苏伦伯格在他的网站上发布的一份声明中写道。“现在，这意味着我可能不容易想起一个名字，我忘记了我最近讲过的一个故事，或者我睡得不好，但我正处于这一漫长旅程的开始。”
安德鲁·哈尼克/美联社照片
根据疾病控制和预防中心的说法，阿尔茨海默病是一种进行性大脑疾病，会对大脑中的神经细胞造成不可逆的损害。CDC指出，阿尔茨海默氏症影响着美国约700万人，是最常见的痴呆症，也是美国成年人死亡的第七大原因。
根据CDC的说法，阿尔茨海默氏症的早期预警信号往往出现在60岁以后，可能包括记忆力丧失、解决问题或完成日常任务有困难、判断力下降、物品放错地方，或者情绪和性格变化。
该机构表示，目前没有治愈阿尔茨海默病的方法，但可以为患者提供各种治疗选择，如处方药，以保持大脑健康，延迟症状发作或控制症状。
Sullenberger是一名空军老兵，后来成为一名商业飞行员和事故调查员，17年前在被称为“哈德逊奇迹”的事件中成为头条新闻。
2009年1月15日，苏伦伯格和副驾驶杰夫·斯基尔斯在驾驶全美航空1549航班时撞上了一群加拿大鹅。飞行员随后在曼哈顿中城附近的哈德逊河实施了紧急水上迫降，拯救了所有150名乘客和5名机组人员。
在周二的声明中，苏伦伯格说，在1549航班事件后，他很自豪地倡导进一步的航空安全，他说他希望在未来继续这样做。
苏伦伯格说:“因此，我生活的这个新阶段对服务的意义提出了挑战。””而答案就是大声说出来。我希望通过分享这一点，其他生活在这种疾病阴影下的家庭会感到他们也可以向前迈进。关于希望，很多人在1549航班后告诉我们，这个结果给了他们希望。洛莉，我37年来不可思议的搭档，说我们现在都可以用一点点希望。”
Sullenberger是近几个月来分享他们的阿尔茨海默氏症诊断的几位公众人物之一。其他人包括资深纽约市新闻主持人比尔·里特和长期演员丹尼·格洛弗。
苏伦伯格周二写道:“我现在是一个更大的社区的一部分，我们将一起勇敢起来。”
Capt. Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger reveals Alzheimer's diagnosis
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.
"I recently found out I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. It is early stage," Sullenberger, 75, wrote in part in a statement posted to his website. "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."
Andrew Harnik/AP Photo
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes irreversible damage to the nerve cells in the brain, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. 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.
Early warning signs of Alzheimer's, which tend to appear after the age of 60, may include memory loss, having trouble solving problems or finishing everyday tasks, decreased judgement, misplacing items, or mood and personality changes, according to the CDC.
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, the agency says.
Sullenberger, an Air Force veteran who became a commercial pilot and later an accident investigator, made headlines 17 years ago in what has been dubbed the "Miracle on the Hudson" incident.
On Jan. 15, 2009, Sullenberger and co-pilot Jeff Skiles were at the helm of US Airways Flight 1549 when they struck a flock of Canadian geese. The pilots subsequently pulled off an emergency water landing in the Hudson River near Midtown Manhattan, saving all 150 passengers and five crew in the process.
In his statement Tuesday, Sullenberger said in the aftermath of Flight 1549, he was proud to advocate for further aviation safety, something he said he hopes to continue in the future.
"So this new phase of my life has challenged what it means to be of service," Sullenberger said. "And the answer is to speak up. It is my hope that by sharing this, other families living in the shadows with this disease will feel they too can step forward. And about hope -- so many people told us after Flight 1549, that the outcome gave them hope. Lorrie, my incredible partner of 37 years, says we can all use a little of that hope right now."
Sullenberger is one of several public figures who have shared their Alzheimer's diagnoses in recent months. Others include veteran New York City news anchorBill Ritterand longtime actorDanny Glover.
"I am now part of a larger community with many of you, and we will be courageous together," Sullenberger wrote Tuesday.
