Oscar Contender 'Still Alice' Dramatically Captures Alzheimer’s
Critics are raving about the movie “Still Alice” and Julianne Moore’s compelling performance as a 50-year-old mother, wife and college professor who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Most Everything You Think You Know About Dementia Is Wrong, Prominent Geriatrician Asserts
Dr. G. Allen Power, a pioneer in dementia care, has just published a new book challenging most of the conventional wisdom about caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
20 Years Ago Today: Ronald Reagan Announces He Has Alzheimer’s
On Nov. 5, 1994, former President Ronald Reagan made public a handwritten letter to the American people announcing that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. “I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life,” he wrote.
"Glen Campbell I'll Be Me" Tells Powerful Story of Music Legend Living with Alzheimer's
Glen Campbell is a music legend, winner of the Grammy for Lifetime Achievement and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He also has Alzheimer's.
In 2011, Campbell set out on an unprecendented tour across America. What made this tour extraordinary was that he had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Glen and his wife went public with his diagnosis and announced that he and his family would set out on a "Goodbye Tour." The tour went on for 151 spectacular sold out shows across America over a year and a half.
The film tells the music legend's story. His life, his music and the extraordinary 151-city "Goodbye Tour" de force that's made him a hero.
"Glen Campbell I'll Be Me" debuts October 24 in theaters New York, Tennessee, New Jersey and Arkansas. The film will be released in Minneapolis and Rochester, Minnesota, and other Midwestern locations on October 31.
Visit www.glencampbellmovie.com for more information.
Last Week's Top 5 Blog Posts - August 18
In case you missed out on the latest Changing Aging news, here are the blog posts our online visitors found most interesting last week - including: Dementia Care: It Doesn't Have To Be This Way, How I'm Preparing to Get Alzheimer's, Enjoying Art in Duluth, Oh That Beautiful Doll and more. Click here to read these great stories:
Dr. John Brose on Dementia Care: It Doesn't Have to be this Way
TED Talk Video: How I'm Preparing to Get Alzheimer's
The Pure Enjoyment of Art at Ecumen Lakeshore
Oh, That Beautiful Doll Returns to Ecumen North Branch
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 104th Birthday Grace Zemlin
To read more Changing Aging blog posts or to learn more about Ecumen, please visit www.ecumen.org!
TED Talk Video: How I'm Preparing to Get Alzheimer's
Many children and grandchildren of those who have lived with Alzheimer's have uncertain feelings around their own future health. Watch this enlightening video by global health and development specialist Alanna Shaikh - whose father has Alzheimer's - on her approach to a future that may include Alzheimer's. Shaikh presented "How I'm Preparing to Get Alzheimer's" at TEDGlobal 2012.
From the TED website: When faced with a parent suffereing from Alzheimer's, most of us respond with denial ("It won't happen to me") or extreme efforts at prevention. But global health expert and TED Fellow Alanna Shaikh sees it differently. She's taking three concrete steps to prepare for the moment - should it arrive - when she herself gets Alzheimer's disease.
The Latest in Alzheimer’s Research
Recent research on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is beginning to get lots of attention from mainstream media. Here’s a roundup of items over the past month that caught the attention of Dr. Tracy Tomac, Ecumen's consulting psychiatrist.
Great Minds Gala Video: Ashley and Shannon Campbell Perform Tribute to their Father
Ashley and Shannon Campbell, children of legendary country music singer Glen Campbell, gave a stunning performance to cap last night's Great Minds Gala in Washington, D.C. Campbell was honored at the Gala for his and his family's efforts toward continued research, education and support for those living with Alzheimers. Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2011, after which he and his family decided to launch a Glen Campbell goodbye tour, giving him a chance to connect with family, friends and fans through music.
Thank you to Leading Age for sharing the video on their Facebook page.
The Great Minds Gala recognizes LeadingAge members and individuals who have exhibited extraordinary leadership in the quest to improve lives of those touched by Alzheimer's and other related dementias. Ecumen was also an award recipient at the event.
Reassuring Study: “Senior Moments” Don’t Mean Dementia for Most People
A new German study suggests that memory lapses associated with aging may not lead to dementia for a majority of people. Only about 20 percent of those in the study who had “senior moments” developed Alzheimer’s or other serious brain-related disorders. HealthDay reports on the study, which also shows that over time 42 percent of participants with mild cognitive impairment actually returned to normal mental functioning.
A Must-Read: Washington Post Brings Caregiving Crisis Front and Center
If you’re not already a caregiver to a loved one, chances are high you will be one day. The constellation of issues you are, or will be, facing are daunting. And even if you’re never in this role, the looming crisis is sure to have major societal effects that will impact everyone.
The Washington Post recently took an in-depth look at caregiving and published “Caregiving: A Special Report” highlighting the current and future issues Americans face as more people live longer and there are fewer younger people and fewer financial resources to take care of them. The Post held “Caregiving in America” forums in Chicago and Seattle and interviewed experts in all aspects of the caregiving crisis.
As former First Lady Rosalynn Carter puts it: "There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers."
Travel writer and TV host Rick Steves in a video interview offers a heartfelt plea for action: “As our society becomes more successful… living longer and out-living our brains or bodies… loved ones are taking care of loved ones… It’s a big issue that people don’t talk about so much… but there’s so much power and passion and affluence in our society. If we can’t deal with this in a smart and honest way, it’s sort of an embarrassment for our whole society. The caliber of a great nation is how they deal with seniors…”
The Post’s report is comprehensive — full of information that honors and empowers caregivers and takes on the rapidly emerging personal and societal issues. Both printed and online versions are available at the links below: