8 Famous People You Didn’t Know Had Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is a debilitating disease that affects a person’s short-term memory, and it receives widespread recognition, including the designation of November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in 1983.

Read on to learn about 8 famous people who have battled the disease.

8. Glen Campbell

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Flickr

Earlier, in 2011, country singer Glen Campbell announced that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He concluded his “Goodbye Tour” in 2012, and passed away at the age of 81 in 2017.

7. Perry Como

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Flickr

Singer Perry Como passed away in 2001 at the age of 89. He spent two years dealing with Alzheimer’s disease.

6. Charles Bronson

WikiCommons
WikiCommons

“Death Wish” star Charles Bronson battled Alzheimer’s disease during the last few years of his life before passing away in 2003.

5. Charlton Heston

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Flickr

Charlton Heston, who died in 2008, was well known for starring as Moses in “The Ten Commandments.” He also was public about his struggles with Alzheimer’s disease.

Click “Next” to learn what other stars have had dementia.

4. Rita Hayworth

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Flickr

American actress Rita Hayworth was at the top of her career in the 1940s. She became the “face of Alzheimer’s disease” in the ’80s, according to A Place for Mom, before her passing in 1987.

3. Sugar Ray Robinson

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Flickr

Boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson passed away due to Alzheimer’s disease in 1989 at the age of 67. Research continues to determine whether head injuries contribute to the disease.

2. Norman Rockwell

WikiCommons
WikiCommons

The complications from Alzheimer’s disease led to the death of iconic painter Norman Rockwell in 1978. Today, his paintings are often used in therapy to treat patients with dementia.

1. Estelle Getty

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Flickr

Television’s Estelle Getty, best known for playing Sophia on “Golden Girls,” passed away in 1998 from Lewy body dementia, a condition that results in memory loss and other symptoms that mimic Alzheimer’s.

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