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.

An Alzheimer’s Anthem: Remember Me

24 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, Cure Alzheimer's Fund, Events, Face of Alzheimer's, Fundraising, Inspiration, Mom, Music and Art, Research, Ruminations

≈ 1 Comment

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#rememberme, alzheimers, alzheimers song, chris mann, cure alzheimers fund, dementia, remember me, rudy tanzi

While there are plenty of things that stir my emotions, music can really send me into a tailspin. I still haven’t listened to the Glen Campbell song, I’ll Be Me. One day I will, but I’m not ready yet.

Over the past day or so, I’ve seen a couple of Facebook posts regarding a new song and video by Chris Mann, a 2012 finalist on The Voice.

Remember Me is the result of a collaboration between Mann and a rather unlikely suspect, world-renowned Alzheimer’s researcher, neuroscientist Rudy Tanzi.

A recent Rolling Stone article describes how the two met and what inspired the partnership. (Call me crazy, but I feel as though this could be a game changer with regard to bringing Alzheimer’s out of the shadows! Who could have imagined uttering the words “Rolling Stone” and “Alzheimer’s” in the same sentence?)

Tonight as I was driving home, I shook off my apprehension and clicked the play button to listen to this remarkably powerful song for the first time. Within seconds, I found myself sobbing – it’s difficult to describe the raw emotion I felt as the beautiful lyrics cut into my heart. A rush of piercing grief, intense regret, and tremendous loss washed over me – body and soul. It took my breath away in every sense of the word. I couldn’t help but imagine my mom…

I know there’ll come a day, when I have gone away / And the memory of me will fade / But darling think of me, and who I use to be / And I’ll be right there with you again / I hope I’m one thing worth not forgetting / Tell me that you’ll never let me go

You can watch the poignant Remember Me video below, but please click over to iTunes and buy the single, then encourage your friends to do the same. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.*

Join the #RememberMe movement. Learn more -> here

*Since its inception in 2004, the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization) has contributed $27.4 million to research. The founders cover all overhead expenses, and 100% of donations go directly to research. Dr. Rudy Tanzi is a key member of the organization’s research consortium.

Alzheimer’s Talks: Dr. Rudy Tanzi

16 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, Events, Helpful Resources, Research, USAgainstAlzheimer's

≈ 2 Comments

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alzheimers, alzheimers in a dish, alzheimers research, dementia, rudy tanzi, usagainstalzheimers

If you missed the October Alzheimer’s Talks call, I hope you’ll take time to listen to the recording. We don’t often have the opportunity to hear directly from a leading researcher, but thanks to our friends at USAgainstAlzheimer’s, we were able to spend 60 minutes with Dr. Rudy Tanzi last month. The discussion was fascinating, informative, and full of reasons to be hopeful.

Take a listen as Dr. Tanzi talks about his team’s recent “Alzheimer’s in a Dish” discovery and how it will allow researchers to screen potential drugs 10 times faster and cheaper than ever before. During the second half of the call, he takes questions from listeners – again, giving us rare insight into the latest research.

To listen, click here –> A Major Breakthrough: Alzheimer’s in a Dish – Dr. Rudy Tanzi, Alzheimer’s Talks – October 2014

Also, be sure to register for the November Alzheimer’s Talks discussion with Olivia Mastry of ACT on Alzheimer’s. Ms. Mastry will share Minnesota’s very successful model for creating dementia friendly communities.