Veteran ABC7 Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter has announced that he is stepping away from the anchor desk after revealing that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. The 76-year-old broadcast journalist shared the news during Friday’s June 12 edition of ABC7 Eyewitness News, telling viewers that his health had taken an unexpected turn after undergoing a series of medical tests.“My life has taken a turn,” 76 year old Ritter said. “After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer’s. This is called early-stage Alzheimer’s, and they say the treatments I’m getting are keeping it at bay, at least for now. But there is no guarantee here, because there’s no cure yet for Alzheimer’s.”“So, unless someone finds an amazing cure and really soon, tonight will be the last newscast I anchor.”What happened to Bill Ritter?Bill Ritter revealed that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder that affects memory and cognitive function. Although he is stepping down from his role as an anchor, he will continue working with ABC7 in a different capacity.According to the Alzheimer’s Association, people in the early stage of Alzheimer’s may still function independently, including driving, working, and participating in social activities. However, they may begin experiencing memory lapses, such as forgetting familiar words or misplacing everyday objects. Family members and close friends often notice subtle changes before symptoms become more apparent, and doctors can identify early signs through specialized diagnostic tools.Ritter said the treatments he is receiving are helping slow the progression of the disease for now but acknowledged that there is currently no cure.Bill Ritter will continue reporting for ABC7Although he is retiring from the anchor desk, Ritter will remain with ABC7 Eyewitness News, focusing primarily on health-related reporting. His future work will include coverage of Alzheimer’s disease and the challenges faced by patients and their families.He said his reporting will focus on “the rising tide of Alzheimer’s, and other similar diseases, including how it’s affecting patients and their families, how the price of treatment and the price of caring for patients is simply unaffordable, and how this country might begin to change that.”WABC-TV General Manager Marilu Galvez described Ritter as an “integral part” of ABC7 and said she looks forward to his continued reporting, ABC reported.“For decades, Bill Ritter has covered and led New Yorkers through the stories that matter most,” Galvez said. “A defining presence at ABC7, he has done so with exceptional insight, integrity and, most of all - heart, earning the love and respect of viewers and colleagues alike.”Bill Ritter reflects on decades-long career and colleaguesDuring the emotional broadcast, Ritter also paid tribute to the colleagues who worked alongside him over the years, including producer Zahir Sachedina, with whom he partnered on the 6 p.m. newscast for more than 25 years.“I believe we are the longest running behind-the-scenes newscast team ever, here or maybe anywhere,” Ritter said. “A Muslim producer and a Jewish anchor for 25-and-a-half years, it’s what the melting pot of what New York and the Tri-State, and I would hope, the country is all about.”Who is Bill Ritter?Bill Ritter is a veteran American television journalist with a career spanning more than four decades. He joined ABC News in 1993 as co-anchor of Good Morning America Sunday and later became a correspondent for Good Morning America and 20/20. He was named weekend anchor of WABC-TV in 1998, became the station’s 11 p.m. anchor in 1999, and took over the 6 p.m. newscast in 2001.Before joining ABC, the Los Angeles native worked for KCAL-TV and Fox Television, covering major events including the Rodney King trial and the Los Angeles riots, as per his biography on ABC. Earlier, he earned four Emmy Awards for investigative reporting at San Diego’s KNSD-TV and worked in print journalism for The Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Business Journal. Ritter attended San Diego State University, where he studied accounting and economics. Ritter is a father of three and has one grandchild, with another grandchild on the way.