Why ABC News' Bill Ritter was 'scared' after Alzheimer's diagnosis
Why ABC News' Bill Ritter was 'scared' after Alzheimer's diagnosis
Edward Segarra, USA TODAYMon, June 15, 2026 at 7:32 PM UTC
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ABC News anchor Bill Ritter is opening up about his health journey after revealing his Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.
The longtime WABC-TV anchor, who announced his departure from the station's evening newscast Friday, June 12, detailed his emotional reaction to receiving a diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer's in an interview Monday, June 15, with "Good Morning America."
"My first reaction was, I thought about my dad," said Ritter, 76, whose father died of Alzheimer's disease in 1998. "He just popped into my head. And then a couple of seconds later, I was scared. I don't mind saying that. It was scary. Because it was like, 'Wait a minute. I'm supposed to be doing this. What's going on here?'"
Bill Ritter attends the 2022 Sandy Hook Promise Benefit at The Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City on Dec. 6, 2022.
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by abnormal biological processes in the brain that often lead to cognitive decline. Symptoms can include forgetfulness, difficulty finding words and struggles with reasoning, problem solving and judgment.
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Ritter said on "Good Morning America" that he began experiencing lapses in his memory about two years ago. "I realized I was forgetting people's names and places," he said. "Didn't know why that was happening."
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The TV journalist said he later decided to get tested after other health measures, such as cutting back on his work schedule and getting more sleep, failed to improve his condition.
"That was really an important thing," Ritter continued. "A lot of people say, 'I'm fine, don't worry about it; I'm going to be fine.' No, you've got to go do this."
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Despite his departure from the WABC anchor desk, Ritter revealed during his Friday announcement that he was taking on a new role, mentoring up-and-coming journalists while continuing to cover Alzheimer's disease for the station.
"My job as a journalist is to speak honestly to the public," Ritter said of his decision to reveal his diagnosis on "Good Morning America." "Truth and facts [are] what we deal with. I felt I owed it to the viewers to be honest about this."
Contributing: Anthony Robledo and Daryl Austin, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill Ritter details emotional reaction to Alzheimer's diagnosis
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