Ted Turner’s death at 87 comes eight years after he announced he had Lewy body dementia.
The Turner family confirmed the passing of the CNN Founder and business tycoon in a statement but did not share a cause of death.
"On behalf of the Turner family, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of philanthropist, environmentalist and cable pioneer Ted Turner who died peacefully today at age 87, surrounded by his family," the statement read in part.
Turner shared his dementia diagnosis with the public in 2018, shortly before he turned 80. He also was hospitalized with pneumonia in 2025 and had to recover at a rehab facility, CNN reported.
Ted Turner's Dementia Diagnosis
The progressive brain disorder left Turner tired and exhausted, he told told CBS Sunday Morning in 2018.
“That’s the main symptoms, and, forgetfulness,” he said.
But he called it “not nearly as bad” as Alzheimer’s.
The disease affects more than 1 million people in the U.S., the Lewy Body Dementia Association notes.
Other high-profile patients included the late actor Robin Williams and disc jockey Casey Kasem.
What Is Lewy Body Dementia?
While Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of degenerative dementia, Lewy body dementia is the second-most common form, the Lewy Body Dementia Association notes.
Lewy body dementia is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s, but the two conditions have different causes and symptoms, Dr. James E. Galvin, a professor of neurology at NYU Langone Medical Center, previously told NBC News.
What Causes Lewy Body Dementia?
Lewy bodies, named after Dr. Friedrich Lewy who first discovered them in 1912, are deposits of abnormal proteins inside brain cells, according to the Lewy Body Society.
They build up and affect chemicals in the brain, which can lead to problems with thinking, movement, behavior, and mood, the National Institute on Aging noted.
It’s not well understood why these changes happen, but being older is considered the greatest risk factor, with most people diagnosed over the age of 50. Men are more at risk than women.
An LBD patient can either have Parkinson’s disease dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies — the two are closely related.
But the symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies may worsen quicker than those of Parkinson’s disease dementia.
What Are Lewy Body Dementia Symptoms?
The warning signs can be mild at first, but worsen with time. They include:
- Problems with cognitive ability, attention, alertness, memory, judgment and concentration
- Behavior changes
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Slow movement, tremors, difficulty walking, or rigidity
- Sleep problems, including acting out dreams
- Problems with autonomic body functions, such as bladder and bowel function
How Is Lewy Body Dementia Diagnosed?
The disease affects some 1.4 million people in the U.S., the Lewy Body Dementia Association estimated, but diagnosing it can be challenging.
Only an autopsy can provide a conclusive diagnosis, but doctors can recognize the symptoms with the help of physical and neurological examinations, mental status tests and brain imaging.
What Is the Treatment?
There is no cure, but medications developed to treat cognitive problems produced by Alzheimer’s disease are also given to LBD patients.
Physical therapy and exercise can be beneficial.
A patient goes on to live for an average of five to eight years after a diagnosis, but may live up to 20 more years, according to Alzheimers.gov.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
