Gene Hackman’s primary cause of death was due to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease — but what does the condition entail?
Hypertensive Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease is a combination of hypertensive heart disease and arteriosclerosis. According to the Cleveland Clinic, hypertensive heart disease is a long-term condition that develops over time in patients who have high blood pressure — which is another name for hypertension. When unmanaged for a long period, it can lead to problems including heart failure and arrhythmias.
Arteriosclerosis occurs when a person’s arteries become thick and stiff compared to the typically flexible and elastic consistency a healthy one, per the Mayo Clinic. The arteries’ walls can harden over time. When the artery walls have a buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances it results in plaque which can cause the vessels to narrow and block blood flow.
In most patients, a mild case of arteriosclerosis typically does not display symptoms. If the condition is detected early, doctors can typically prevent it from worsening into a heart attack or stroke. However, the disease slowly gets worse over time.
Oscar-winning actor Hackman’s cause of death was revealed on Friday, March 7, in a press conference. In addition to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease was listed as a significant contributing factor to the actor’s death. The medical examiner was not able to confirm if Gene died by a heart attack.
Alzheimer’s disease is the buildup of proteins in the form of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, per the Mayo Clinic. It is one of the most common causes of dementia which affects millions of adults above the age of 65. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include memory loss, trouble concentrating, changes in personality and more. There is no cure for the condition.
Us Weekly confirmed on February 27 that Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead in their New Mexico home the day before. Hackman was 95 while Arakawa was 64. After news broke of Hackman and Arakawa’s deaths, the couple were mourned by their loved ones.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,” Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, and granddaughter Annie said in a statement to Us at the time. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
Shortly after news broke of the pair’s death, an investigation took place. According to a police report obtained by TMZ, Arakawa was found lying unconscious next to a space heater and in an alleged “state of decomposition with bloating in her face and mummification in her hands and feet.” Hackman was reportedly found in a separate room with some suspicion that he fell.
The Friday press conference revealed that authorities believe Hackman died on February 18, eight days before his body was discovered. It was also determined that Arakawa’s cause of death was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome; she is believed to have died a week before her husband on February 11. Hackman and Arakawa’s family was informed of the autopsy findings prior to the press conference.