Family Says Jack Hanna 'Continues To Decline' Amid Alzheimer's Battle: 'Wish We Had Good News'
Jack Hanna, the well-known zookeeper and television figure renowned for his leadership at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, continues to grapple with the impact of Alzheimer's disease.
In a statement to PEOPLE, the family of the 77-year-old, diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in October 2019, reveals that his condition has continued to worsen.
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"We wish we had good news to share, but Jack continues to decline and has all the symptoms one would anticipate with advanced Alzheimer's," his family announced. "Each day, we do our best to find joy - even when things are challenging."
"We hope that sharing Jack's diagnosis of Alzheimer's brings awareness to the disease that affects almost 7 million Americans and their families," the family added.
Alzheimer's disease stems from intricate brain alterations due to cell damage, leading to progressive impairment of memory, cognition, and behavior, disrupting daily activities.
In a June 2023 interview with 'The Columbus Dispatch,' Jack Hanna's wife Suzi and daughters Kathaleen, Suzanne, and Julie disclosed that he retains memories of his wife, his dog Brassy, and intermittently recalls his eldest daughter Kathaleen.
Suzi, married to Hanna since 1968, expressed that while the familiar Jack isn't present, fragments of her husband remain, which she intends to cherish for as long as possible. She shared her belief that her husband's essence still persists, recounting moments that echo the qualities that endeared him to her and others.
"The Jack people knew isn't here anymore, but pieces of my husband are," she continued.
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Suzi acknowledged the challenges of witnessing his decline, but emphasized her commitment to reciprocating the care he had provided her over the years.
Hanna, affectionately known as "Jungle Jack," led the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium from 1978 to 1992, concluding his tenure in conservation efforts in late 2020 upon retirement.
