The Alzheimer's Project

Alzheimer’s is the second-most-feared illness in America following cancer, and it is the nation’s sixth leading cause of death. Is such anxiety justified? The answer, until recently, was not comforting. The Alzheimer’s Project consists of 4 films. The anchor of The Alzheimer’s Project series is Momentum in Science which features 25 leading scientists, a primetime state-of-the-science report revealing the most cutting-edge research advances. The three additional primetime specials (The Memory Lost Tapes; Grandpa, Will You Remember Me? With Maria Shriver; and Caregivers) capture what it means to experience the disease, to be a child or grandchild of one who suffers, and to care for those who are affected. Alzheimer’s is an irreversible and progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. Since advancing age is the strongest risk factor for Alzheimer’s, as the baby boom generation reaches retirement in 2011, the number of those affected will soar. Hard scientific inquiry is demonstrating that there are a number of ways that we can improve our chances of remaining cognitively vital throughout a long life. These findings are presented in this special.