Sir Patrick Stewart’s family revealed he was battling Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer’s disease before his death at 86.
The ‘Star Trek’ and ‘X-Men’ actor died October 28 at his Los Angeles home, his family announced October 29 on his official Instagram page. He was 86. Stewart was surrounded by his wife, Sunny Ozell, and had kept both diagnoses private during his lifetime, leaving the duration of his illness unknown to the public.
The family’s statement, shared to his Instagram, read: “We announce with great sorrow the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart yesterday at his home in Los Angeles, in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny, following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.”
Tributes followed from across the entertainment world. Sir Ian McKellen, his longtime friend and ‘X-Men’ co-star, was among those who publicly mourned the loss. Marvel Studios also issued a tribute to the actor, who portrayed Professor Charles Xavier across multiple films in the franchise.
The announcement has drawn fresh attention to Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder that the Lewy Body Society says affects more than one million people in the United States. The condition accounts for roughly 15 percent of all dementia cases and typically onsets between ages 50 and 85. Those diagnosed tend to live five to seven years after diagnosis, according to the organization.
LBD encompasses two related diagnoses: dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia. The Lewy Body Society notes it is more common in people over 65 but also represents around 10 percent of early-onset dementia cases, where symptoms begin before that age. Men are more likely to develop the condition than women.
The disease is frequently mistaken for Alzheimer’s, and the Lewy Body Dementia Resource Center warns it often goes unrecognized for years. The center identifies nine key symptoms that can signal its presence.
Visual hallucinations rank among the first and most distinctive signs. “The hallucinations are detailed and formed visions that seem completely real in the moment,” the center states. These visions often follow patterns—some patients see children or young adults in their homes, while others see animals.
REM sleep behavior disorder frequently appears years before other symptoms emerge. Normally during REM sleep, muscles are temporarily paralyzed, but this paralysis fails in those with the disorder. A person might punch the air, yell, or otherwise act out dreams in ways that can turn violent or dangerous.
Cognitive fluctuations represent what experts call “one of the most confusing parts” of the disease. “These fluctuations can be dramatic,” the LBD Resource Center explains. “During a clear period, the person can hold complex conversations, remember recent events, and function normally. During a confused period, they might not recognize where they are, struggle to complete simple sentences, or stare into space for long stretches.”
Movement problems resembling Parkinson’s disease also develop, though timing helps distinguish the conditions. The center notes: “In Parkinson’s, movement problems usually appear years before any cognitive changes. In Lewy body dementia, movement problems develop around the same time as cognitive symptoms or shortly after. If someone has both movement and thinking problems appearing together, LBD is more likely than Parkinson’s.”
Visual-spatial difficulties can cause patients to bump into doorframes or struggle navigating familiar spaces, even when basic vision remains intact. Pouring liquids, reaching for objects, and reading may become increasingly difficult because “their brain struggles to organize the letters and words on a page.”
Medication sensitivity poses serious risks. Patients are routinely prescribed antipsychotics for agitation, confusion, or hallucinations that are standard for other dementias, but these drugs can trigger severe reactions in LBD patients. “Standard antipsychotics can cause sudden worsening of movement symptoms, extreme sedation, high fever, or a condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome that can be fatal,” the experts warn. “Even newer antipsychotics marketed as safer can cause serious problems in people with LBD.”
Mood changes often emerge early, before other symptoms dominate. Depression, anxiety, and apathy—described as “particularly common”—may appear, though typical antidepressants offer limited relief. The center advises: “If your loved one has depression and also has movement problems, sleep issues, or hallucinations, the combination suggests LBD rather than primary depression.”
Autonomic nervous system dysfunction causes blood pressure drops upon standing, leading to dizziness and lightheadedness. Body temperature regulation also fails, producing excessive sweating or insufficient sweating, and patients may feel too hot or too cold regardless of room temperature.
A final sign is less clinical but deeply personal: a lingering sense that something is wrong. “You might have felt for months or even years that something was off, even when you couldn’t put your finger on what was wrong,” the center says.
Stewart’s six-decade career spanned stage and screen, with his portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ and its film sequels cementing his status as a science-fiction icon. He later reprised the role for the streaming series ‘Star Trek: Picard.’ His Marvel work as the wheelchair-bound telepath Professor X began with 2000’s ‘X-Men’ and continued through multiple films including ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.’
