Overcoming Stigma
Rob Epp is a caregiver for his partner Jordan, who was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer's four years ago. Rob believes raising awareness of this disease is essential for those living with it.
"There is stigma surrounding any serious illness, but if people understand then they won't be afraid. And if they're not afraid then there is no stigma — just the disease." Read Rob and Jordan's story.
Living with Alzheimer's
Myriam Marquez is living with early-stage Alzheimer's. After receiving her diagnosis, Myriam left her position as an attorney and public defender to pursue a new path as a passionate advocate for Alzheimer's.
She joined the Alzheimer's Association National Early-Stage Advisory Group to raise awareness of this disease. In her own words, "I want to spend the rest of my life advocating for a cure and living life to its fullest."
Serenading to Raise Awareness
Glen Campbell stunned fans by going public with his diagnosis of Alzheimer's last year. Since then, he has kept singing. He serenaded Congress, went on tour, and released an album.
Campbell's daughter Ashley explains, "We decided to go on a farewell tour with him to keep his struggle public," she said. "We didn't want people to think they were going through this alone. This isn't a disease that just affects the person living with it — it affects their entire family."
Going Purple for Past and Future Generations
Emma Fuhrmann is putting Alzheimer's in the spotlight to honor her grandmother.
"I'm only 10 and I have two family members who have suffered from this disease. Both didn't know who I was in the end. If we don't find a cure, I could be faced with it like my Grandma was, and that has to be the scariest thing to even think about."
Raising Awareness in the Workplace
Leslie Sosebee is a Retiree Health Promotion Coordinator for The Dow Chemical Company. She is raising awareness and educating company retirees about Alzheimer's.
"From my experience, there is stigma around Alzheimer's, even among the very age group who are at the greatest risk. I believe that Dow's participation in the Alzheimer's Early Detection Alliance (AEDA) has helped legitimize the message for our retirees, but we still have a long way to go to make Alzheimer's a topic we can discuss as easily as we do other chronic diseases."
