Think Like a Scientist: Inside Alzheimer’s Disease

05 Sunday Nov 2017

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, Face of Alzheimer's, Films, Inspiration, Research, Video

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alzheimers, alzheimers inspiration, alzheimers research, alzheimers story, greg obrien, rudy tanzi, think like a scientist

Once or twice in a lifetime, if we’re lucky, we have a chance to meet a real life hero.

Greg O’Brien, author of OnPluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s, is one of those people for me. I had followed his story for years and finally had the privilege of meeting him a few years ago at the UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Summit in Washington. Greg’s courage, humor, and willingness to share his story in such an honest and unfiltered way, combined with his journalistic excellence, are beyond inspiring.

Also featured in this short film is Dr. Rudy Tanzi, arguably the leading AD scientist/researcher in the United States. Dr. Tanzi co-discovered all three early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease genes and, as leader of the Alzheimer’s Genome Project, discovered several others. In 2014, he and Dr. Doo Yeon Kim, used Alzheimer’s disease genes to create “Alzheimer’s in a Dish,” effectively taking Alzheimer’s research to a new level.

Please take six minutes to watch this moving short film.

Happy Birthday, Mom…

12 Thursday Oct 2017

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, Inspiration, Life After Caregiving, Marilyn's Legacy, Mom, Ruminations

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alzheimers, dementia, Marilyn's Legacy, moms birthday

My beautiful Mom…

I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that had it not been for Alzheimer’s disease, we would be joyfully celebrating her 81st birthday today.

There are so many things in life that don’t make sense – things that simply defy any sort of logical explanation. We all face situations and experiences that shake us to the core and make us question everything we thought we knew.

At the end of the day, we have a choice as to how, or even if, we will move on. Will we allow the pain to eat us alive, leaving behind an unrecognizable bitter, hopeless shell? Or, will we use it as a path toward personal growth? Will we shut down, mired in pain and toxic negativity? Or will we share our story with the hope that we might be able to make someone else feel just a little less alone?

For the record, neither course will be easy and both will leave us doubting ourselves at times. The pain will never fully die away and regardless of the direction we choose, we are changed forever.

Happy Birthday, Mom. May your legacy live on and may your story continue to strengthen and inspire others. You will forever be my hero.

National Day of Prayer

04 Thursday May 2017

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, Caregivers, Inspiration, USAgainstAlzheimer's

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#faithunitedagainstalzheimers, alzheimers, dementia, national day of prayer

On this National Day of Prayer, please join Marilyn’s Legacy and The Long and Winding Road as we pray for courage and comfort for the 5.4 millions Americans and their families who are on the journey with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.