Sir Patrick Stewart, who was a true icon as an actor in so many movies, shows and series, died at the age of 86.
On social media, a statement from his family broke the news on Thursday: "He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter, and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all," it read. "We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace."
What was the cause of death? The statement said that it was "a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia."
Sending good thoughts to his family and loved ones.
What is Lewy Body Dementia?
Per Alzheimers.gov:
Lewy body dementia
(LBD) is a brain disorder that can lead to problems with thinking, movement, behavior, and mood. Visual hallucinations, or seeing things that are not there, are a common symptom, and tend to happen early on. ...
In people with LBD, abnormal clumps of a protein called alpha-synuclein accumulate in areas of the brain involved in thinking, memory, and movement. The clumps are called "Lewy bodies" after the doctor who discovered them. They build up inside neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain and cause the neurons not to work well and eventually die. Certain chemicals in the brain that act as messengers between cells are also affected. What causes these changes in the brain is not yet fully understood.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: What happened to Patrick Stewart? What we know on legendary actor
