The Alzheimer’s Project

Alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death in US. Currently, there are approximately 5 million AD patients in US and the total direct/indirect cost is $148 billion/year.  With the aging population of 77 million baby-boomers, the number of patients are expected to be more than 14 million by year 2050 and the cost is expected to exceed $1 trillion/year. Thus, we have an unprecedented socio-economical challenge looming ahead of us, which not everyone (including scientists as well as laypersons) is fully aware of.  

In this context, HBO is presenting a unique series of documentaries that are aimed to change how people think of Alzheimer's  disease and encourage everyone to put their efforts and resources into finding a cure for it.  This will be free for all cable-viewers, you just have to flip through the channels until you see HBO at the following times-
 

Sunday, May 10 at 9 p.m. EST

“The Memory Loss Tapes”

“The Memory Loss Tapes” takes an intimate look at seven individuals living with Alzheimer’s, seeking to introduce a new understanding by sharing the devastating experience of memory loss from the point of view of the person with the disease.

Monday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. EST

“Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am? With Maria Shriver” and “Momentum in Science, Part 1″

“Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am? With Maria Shriver” is geared toward children and young teens coping with a grandparent’s illness, and presents vignettes that can help a child understand and deal with a relative’s gradual decline into Alzheimer’s.

“Momentum in Science” is a two-part, state-of-science odyssey that takes viewers inside the laboratories and clinics of 25 leading physicians, revealing some of the most cutting-edge Alzheimer research advances.

Tuesday, May 12 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. EST

“Caregivers” and “Momentum in Science, Part 2″

“Caregivers” is a collection of five family portraits that illustrate caring for the different stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

The evening concludes with “Momentum in Science, Part 2.”

With best regards,
Sachin