News Anchor Walter Cronkite, Dead at 92

It seems almost ironic that legendary Walter Cronkite died just before the 40th anniversary of our first moon walk. Mr. Cronkite was the newsman who most people remember when they think about watching the lunar landing and Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon surface. Alas, Mr. Cronkite was 92 years old and succumbed to cerebrovascular disease.

No other newsman worked as long and is as storied as Mr. Cronkite. The news that he covered from 1962 until his retirement until 1981 was world-changing. And, although he retired from his nightly anchor duties in 1981, it seems he continued working until last year – at the age of 91.

Cerebrovascular disease is what leads to strokes and is usually caused by atherosclerosis – hardening of the arteries.  The result is either the blood vessels get blocked, depriving the brain of nutrient and oxygen-rich blood, or the blood vessels may burst, causing a hemorrhage and pooling of blood in the brain. This puts pressure on the brain tissue and can cause a stroke or death (Let’s Talk About… Strokes).

People at highest risk for strokes are those who:

• Have a family history of stroke, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), or heart attacks
• Have had an earlier stroke or TIA
• Have heart disease
• Are over the age of 55 years
• Have high blood pressure
• Have high cholesterol
• Have diabetes
• Are obese
• Smoke

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Image: Bauer Griffin