The longtime WABC-TV anchor announced he will retire from the station’s evening newscast after being diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease.
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ABC News anchor Bill Ritter has opened up about his health history after revealing his Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis.
The longtime WABC TV anchor, who announced his departure from WABC-TV’s evening news program on June 12, detailed his emotional reaction to receiving an early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis in an interview on “Good Morning America” on June 15.
“My first reaction was, it reminded me of my dad. I thought of him,” said Ritter, 76, who lost her father to Alzheimer’s disease in 1998. “And a few seconds later I was scared. I don’t care if I say that. I was scared, because I was like, ‘Wait a minute. I’m supposed to be doing this. What’s going on here?'”
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by abnormal biological processes in the brain that often cause cognitive decline. Symptoms include forgetfulness, difficulty finding words, and difficulty reasoning, problem solving, and making decisions.
Ritter told “Good Morning America” that he started experiencing memory loss about two years ago. “I found myself forgetting people’s names and places,” he says. “I didn’t understand why that happened.”
The TV journalist said he later decided to get tested after his symptoms did not improve after taking other health measures, such as reducing his work schedule and increasing his sleep time.
“That was really important,” Ritter continued. “A lot of people say, ‘It’s okay, don’t worry, it’s going to be fine.’ No, you have to do this.”
Despite leaving WABC’s anchor desk, Ritter said in an announcement Friday that he has taken on a new role mentoring up-and-coming journalists while continuing to cover Alzheimer’s disease at the station.
“My job as a journalist is to be honest with the public,” Ritter said of his decision to reveal his diagnosis on “Good Morning America.” “What we’re dealing with is truth and facts. We felt we had an obligation to be honest with our viewers about this.”
Contributed by Anthony Robredo and Darryl Austin, USA TODAY
