Gene Hackman had advanced Alzheimer’s and possibly didn’t know his wife died, medical examiner says
Gene Hackman died of heart disease, Alzheimer's. What to know about the conditions.
Gene Hackman had advanced Alzheimer’s and severe heart disease at time of death: ‘In very poor health’
A Timeline of How Actor Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa Died at Their New Mexico Home
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, authorities revealed Friday.
What is Alzheimer's disease and how is it detected?
"Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks," Achrekar said. "It is the most common cause of dementia among older adults." Diagnoses of the memory-loss disease normally happens after the age of 60.