EXCLUSIVE: Tony Bennett, 94, is pictured with wife Susan Crow, 54, in Central Park a month after revealing his years-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease

• Bennett’s outing on Tuesday comes nearly two months after the star announced that he has been battling  Alzheimer’s disease since 2016 
• Tony began showing real signs of decline two years later, in 2018, when he began to record the follow up to his 2014 Cheek to Cheek album with Lady Gaga
• ‘There’s a lot about him that I miss. Because he’s not the old Tony anymore … But when he sings, he’s the old Tony,’ said Bennett’s wife Susan in an interview with AARP in February
• Tony first aired concerns over his health in 2015 when he admitted he was struggling to remember the names of his fellow musicians 
• Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, in which build-up of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die 

Tony Bennett was spotted publicly for the first time on Tuesday after announcing his years-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease last month.

The music legend, 94, held hands with his doting wife Susan Crow, 54, as they enjoyed a leisurely stroll around New York City’s iconic Central Park.

Bennett braved the day in a grey windbreaker jacket, which he layered over a zip-up sweater shirt and a white dress shirt.

Spotted: Tony Bennett was seen out publicly for the first time on Tuesday, after announcing his years-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease via social media last month

Doting: The music legend, 94, held hands with his doting wife Susan Crow, 54, as they enjoyed a leisurely stroll around New York City’s iconic Central Park

Tony, born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, completed his casual ensemble with some black velour sweatpants and a pair of bright white sneakers.

Susan, who wed the crooner in 2007, also sported a layered up look for her morning outing with Tony and rocked a head full of voluminous blonde hair.

She carried her Louis Vuitton purse in one hand, while helping Tony safely navigate the park’s sidewalk with the other.

Taking a break from their stroll, the couple took a seat on a nearby bench.

Comfortable: Bennett braved the day in a grey windbreaker jacket, which he layered over a zip-up sweater shirt and a white dress shirt

Battle: The star announced in February that he has been battling Alzheimer’s disease since 2016

At one point, Crow can be seen sweetly fixing her husband’s hair before they were approached by a masked park patron.

Tony appeared to be thanking the passerby as he cracked a subtle smirk and pressed his hands together with gratitude.

After soaking up the sun on the park bench, the pair eventually rose from their seated positions to discuss their next steps.

Continuing to be a doting wife, Crow was spotted patiently guiding her husband as they retreated from the park.

Support: Susan carried her Louis Vuitton purse in one hand, while helping Tony safely navigate the park’s sidewalk with the other

Layering up: Susan, who wed the crooner in 2007, also sported a layered up look for her morning outing with Tony and rocked a head full of voluminous blonde hair

 Cozy: Tony, born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, completed his casual ensemble with some black velour sweatpants and a pair of bright white sneakers

Adhering to COVID-19 protocols as they became in closer proximity to the public, Tony and Susan places medical grade masks over their faces. 

The pair’s outing on Tuesday comes nearly two months after Tony’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis was unveiled in an interview with AARP in February  

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, in which build-up of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die.

Although he was diagnosed four years ago, the article reveals that Tony began showing real signs of decline two years later, in 2018, when he began to record the follow up to his 2014 Cheek to Cheek album with Lady Gaga, which will be released in the spring.

Visiting: At one point, Crow can be seen sweetly fixing her husband’s hair before they were approached by a masked park patron

Gratitude: Tony appeared to be thanking the passerby as he cracked a subtle smirk and pressed his hands together with gratitude

In raw documentary footage of the sessions, the article claims he can be seen struggling to reply to questions from Gaga who, as he sings one particular song, puts her hands over her face and cries.

Bennett continues to rehearse twice weekly, as the suggestion of his neurologist, but the family did not say if he would be carrying out any live performances of the unnamed new album.

They did reveal that he was not capable of taking part in any promotional interviews.

His third wife Susan told the publication: ‘There’s a lot about him that I miss. Because he’s not the old Tony anymore … But when he sings, he’s the old Tony.’

Masking up: Adhering to COVID-19 protocols as they became in closer proximity to the public, Tony and Susan places medical grade masks over their faces 

Adhering to COVID-19 protocols as they became in closer proximity to the public, Tony and Susan places medical grade masks over their faces. 

She added that they kept it secret because ‘he always like to say he’s in the business of making people feel good. And so he never wanted the audience to know if he had a problem.

Tony first aired concerns over his health in 2015 when he admitted he was struggling to remember the names of his fellow musicians.

Although his wife Susan tried to assist by writing a list of names to keep on his piano, Tony insisted that he needed to see a doctor.

Patient: Continuing to be a doting wife, Crow was spotted patiently guiding her husband as they retreated from the park 

A neurologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City confirmed the diagnosis in 2016.

Dr. Gayatri Devi, who diagnosed the star, told the magazine: ‘He is doing so many things, at 94, that many people without dementia cannot do, He really is the symbol of hope for someone with a cognitive disorder.’

He also admitted that he was ‘humbled’ by his wife’s devotion to him. 

So far the singer has been ‘spared’ some of the disease’s symptoms which include disorientation, episodes of rage, depression and a detachment from reality.

Statement: The iconic American singer, 94, has announced in February that he was diagnosed with the condition in 2016 and has been living with the disease ever since during an article with AARP magazine

Support: Tony opened up about his condition for the first time in a Twitter post, where he said ‘life is a gift, even with Alzheimer’s’, and thanked his wife Susan and his family for their continued support (pictured with Susan in 2019)

It also stated that Tony may never develop these symptoms.

The article did offer an insight into Tony’s condition, as it stated: ‘His expression had a mask-like impassivity that changed only slightly to dim awareness when Susan placed a hand on his shoulder.’

Tony’s condition has also reportedly been aided by his Mediterranean diet and exercise regimen, which are aided by his wife. Both have been proven to delay the progression of memory loss.

Showing signs: Although he was diagnosed four years ago, the article reveals that Tony began showing real signs of decline two years later, in 2018, when he began to record the follow up to his 2014 Cheek to Cheek album with Lady Gaga, which will be released in the spring; Tony and Gaga pictured in 2016 

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