How bad was Hackman's dementia? Unpacking the severity of Gene Hackman's cognitive decline
According to official reports released in March 2025, a medical examiner confirmed that Gene Hackman was suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease at the time of his death. This cognitive decline was so severe that experts believe he was likely unaware that his wife, Betsy Arakawa, had passed away a week earlier, leading to his own death from heart complications. The question of just how bad was Hackman's dementia reveals a heartbreaking story of his final, isolated days.