Kris Kristofferson Cause of Death
In his final years, Kris Kristofferson battled Lyme disease, which doctors initially misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s. This misdiagnosis delayed proper treatment and ultimately contributed to the Kris Kristofferson Cause of Death. The actor, famous for his role in “A Star Is Born” passed away in September 2024 at the age of 88. In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Kris and his wife Lisa Meyers shared how the correct diagnosis of Lyme disease led him to adopt a different approach to treatment.
Kristofferson’s family announced on Sunday night that he “passed away peacefully” at home on Saturday. His wife Lisa, along with his eight children and seven grandchildren, signed the statement, expressing their gratitude: “We’re all so blessed for our time with him.” They added, “Thank you for your love for him over the years, and know that he is grinning down at us all when you see a rainbow.”
Kris Kristofferson’s Health
In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Kris revealed his struggles with memory loss. Shortly after, Lisa spoke with LymeDisease.org and shared more details about her husband’s medical condition.
” About 12 years ago, he was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which looking back should have been the first indication that a test for Lyme was warranted,” Lisa told the website in 2016. “But given he used to have these chronic muscular spasms, which is a common symptom, we suspect he has Lyme anywhere from 14 to 30 years.”
Lisa elaborated that the doctors surrounding her and Kris weren’t “aware” of Lyme disease at the time, and therefore, confused it with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Lisa recalled how Kris’s fibromyalgia worsened before his Lyme disease diagnosis. He experienced “massive, painful spasms all over his back and legs,” and she described witnessing his suffering as “so horrible.” She also noted that the “Me and Bobby McGee” songwriter endured painful contractions caused by his nerve endings, which they treated with acupuncture, heat, and massage. Eventually, a rheumatologist administered a spinal cortisone shot, along with a low-dose antidepressant, to help manage his pain.
Lisa also recalled Kris working on the movie Disappearances, where he spent most of the shoot on the forest floor and was “dragged in a makeshift sling” throughout the film.
Lisa shared that doctors diagnosed Kris with moderate to severe sleep apnea after filming Disappearances. They recommended a bi-level CPAP machine, but Kris refused to use it. She added that he struggled with terrible knees, requiring annual knee injections, and had a pacemaker for arrhythmias, which they later learned might have been caused by Lyme disease. Kris also took so much Advil for his headaches that he became anemic.
Though Kris’s cause of death remains unknown. According to his family, he passed away “peacefully” at home, surrounded by his eight children and wife.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28, at home,” the statement read. “We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”
What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is the most commonly transmitted tick-borne infection in the United States and among the most frequently diagnosed tick-borne infections worldwide. Lyme disease is divided into 3 stages: early localized, early disseminated, and late.
