Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s cause of death revealed
The Oscar-winning actor was found dead alongside wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog in their home.
The mystery surrounding Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman’s death has been solved.
The 94-year-old died of heart disease and complications caused by Alzheimer’s disease, according to the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator.
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks, according to the National Institute on Aging.
The Mayo Clinic says it’s the most common cause of dementia and impacts nearly 7 million people 65 and older living in the U.S.
Early symptoms can include forgetting recent events or conversations. However, in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, patients may lose their ability to respond to their environment, carry on a conversation and control movement, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Patients who experience severe Alzheimer’s may need around-the-clock assistance with personal care, sometimes losing the ability to walk, sit and, eventually, swallow. They also become more vulnerable to infections.
Hackman likely didn’t know his wife Betsy Arakawa had died due to his severe Alzheimer’s disease, the medical investigator said. Arakawa, 64, died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease caused by a virus that’s often carried by rodents, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The medical investigator said Hackman’s cause of death was also likely tied to heart disease, which is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. for aging adults. Data has shown a connection between Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular abnormalities, but scientists are still exploring how they’re linked.
Hackman, who was largely out of the spotlight in the last two decades, underwent an angioplasty procedure in 1990 after a spell of angina. According to the Mayo Clinic, angina is chest pain that occurs when blood flow to the heart is restricted.
The couple was found dead at their Santa Fe, New Mexico home on Feb. 26 alongside their dogs.
Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at [email protected].
Leave a Reply