Jul 28 2009
HBO Project Raises Awareness of Alzheimer’s
The more I learn about Alzheimer’s disease, the more I realize that it is one of those conditions that you really can’t understand unless you’ve dealt with it personally, caring for a friend or loved one. But I think the talented folks at HBO may have found a way to give all of us a deeper understanding of this debilitating brain disorder through their new effort – THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, as many as 5.3 million people in the US are living with the disease; that’s one in every eight people over age 65. And those numbers will explode as baby boomers age. Every 70 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s, and it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the US. Yet a survey conducted as part of the HBO project found that a majority of Americans have a “poor understanding of the fatal and progressive brain disease and the extent of its impact on individuals and society.”
HBO’s THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT features a four-part documentary series, 15 short supplemental films, a comprehensive website and a nationwide community-based information and outreach campaign. Best of all, you can see the films even if you don’t subscribe to HBO. They will all stream free of charge on hbo.com.
The four feature films are: “The Memory Loss Tapes” – which provides an up-close and perosnal look at seven individuals living with Alzheimer’s, providing examples of the full spectrum of the progression of the disease. “Momentum in Science” is a two-part state-of-the-science film that takes viewers inside the labs and clinics of 25 leading scientists and physicians. “Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am’ with Maria Shriver” shows what it is like to be a child or grandchild of someone with Alzheimer’s; and “Caregivers” highlights the sacrifices and successes of people who care for a loved one with the disease.
THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT website also provides a wealth of information, including links to a 24-hour helpline, message boards and information on how to connect with clinical trials.
Maria Shriver served as executive producer of the series. Shriver’s 93-year-old father, Sargent Shriver, the first director of the Peace Corps and 1972 Democratic vice presidential nominee, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2003. THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT marks the third time HBO Documentary Films has made a focused attempt at public health education. In 2000, there was the Peabody Award-winning series “Cancer: Evolution to Revolution,” followed by the “Addiction” series in 2007.