According to TMZ, Barker’s official death certificate lists Alzheimer’s as the cause.
The iconic game show host never publicly addressed his condition, reports Microsoft’s recent article, “Bob Barker’s Cause of Death Revealed: TV Legend Had Alzheimer’s Disease.”
“We lost a beloved member of the CBS family today with the passing of Bob Barker,” CBS said in a statement on August 26. “During his 35 years as host of The Price Is Right, Bob made countless people’s dreams come true, and everyone feel like a winner when they were called to ‘come on down.’
In addition to his legendary 50-year career in broadcasting, Bob will be remembered as a dedicated animal rights activist. Daytime television has lost one of its most iconic stars.”
For 35 years, Barker hosted The Price Is Right, beginning with the current version’s premiere in 1972.
Wielding his signature skinny microphone while taking bids from contestants, Barker was a beloved staple of daytime TV, helping make The Price Is Right a consistent ratings winner and the longest-running game show in TV history.
Barker retired in 2007, handing the skinny mic to current host Drew Carey.
“Very sad day for the Price Is Right family, and animal lovers all over the world,” Carey wrote on Twitter. “There hasn’t been a day on set that I didn’t think of Bob Barker and thank him. I will carry his memory in my heart forever.”
The National Institute of Aging explains that Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory, thinking skills and the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.
In most people who suffer from Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear later in life. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that more than six million Americans, most 65+, may have Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s is now ranked as the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. It’s the most common cause of dementia among older adults.
The causes of dementia can vary based on the types of brain changes that may be taking place.
Reference: Microsoft (Sep. 5, 2023) “Bob Barker’s Cause of Death Revealed: TV Legend Had Alzheimer’s Disease”
