Patrick Stewart Dies at 86 After Lewy Body Dementia Battle

Patrick Stewart, the British actor famous for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, died on October 28 at age 86 in Los Angeles. His spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak said he passed away at home surrounded by family and friends.

Bush Novak described Stewart's final period as a brief and moving journey with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. She said he was comforted by live music, prayer, tears, laughter, and the deep emotion he inspired throughout his life of dedication.

“He was embraced by the affection of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter, and the kind of deep emotion only he could inspire after a lifetime of dedication to all of us.”

Lewy body dementia is a progressive syndrome marked by gradual cognitive loss that worsens over time. It is considered the third most common cause of dementia in the general population and the second most common degenerative dementia among older adults after Alzheimer's.

The condition involves the buildup of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain, forming Lewy bodies that destroy neurons. Average survival after diagnosis ranges from five to seven years, though it can be shorter or extend up to two decades depending on the patient.

Other public figures have also faced Lewy body dementia, including Robin Williams, Estelle Getty, and CNN founder Ted Turner. Williams, who died by suicide in 2014 at age 63, had suffered from sleep disorders, anxiety, and concentration problems before his condition was identified after death.

There is currently no cure for Lewy body dementia. The illness can cause memory problems, movement disorders, hallucinations, and strong fluctuations in mental performance.