It Is Getting Harder and Harder to be an Optimist

The recent announcement by Eli Lilly that a new drug intended to slow memory loss in people with Alzheimer’s had failed a late-stage clinical trial felt like a punch in the gut. Look, I know that finding a treatment for dementia is a complex, Herculean task. But I was so sure that this time it was going to happen. And when it didn’t, I knew the devastation that the thousands of people who volunteered for this clinical trial must have felt, as well as the dedicated Eli Lilly researchers and all those who’d devoted their time and energy to crushing

The Bea Lerner Valor Award

My mother - Bea Lerner - was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1987. At the time, I barely knew what the disease was. What I did know is there was no cure. I thought my mom was invincible, but she was no match for Alzheimer’s. I watched helplessly as her mind, her dignity, her soul and finally her body succumbed to this killer. In just a few short years she disappeared into the unforgiving chasm of this deadly disease. ( Continue reading on Huffington Post.)

Women Matter

At Hadassah’s recent National Convention, I had the honor of moderating a panel about gender equity in medicine, including the disparity of sex based research. Hadassah connects Jewish women and empowers them to effect change through advocacy and advancing health and well-being, and is a dedicated supporter of Israel. I grew up with these values since my mother was the first female President of a state chapter (New Jersey) of the Zionist Organization of America. (continue reading on Huffington Post.)

Why Diane Rehm's Book Is a Must Read

Diane Rehm, the treasured NPR host of The Diane Rehm Show (and friend to UsAgainstAlzheimer’s ), has written a deeply personal, profoundly moving, incredibly honest book about her life before and after her husband’s death. Diane and John were married for 54 years. Admittedly, they were not all blissful — what marriage is? They loved each other but perhaps were not suited for each other. John, a brilliant lawyer, taciturn and introspective by nature, was happy just to be alone. Diane, though she appreciates solitude, is a gregarious, inquisitive, people person through and through. They would fight — and make

The Leader's Guide for Seasons of Caring

In 1986, when my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I had no idea what it was — except that it was a disease and it was fatal. I knew no one who had it or, at the very least, talked about it. So I entered into the enigmatic maze of Alzheimer’s without a clue about how to navigate or what to expect was to come. What I would have given to have the Leader’s Guide for Seasons of Caring. Forget Updike, Faulkner or even Theodore White — I truly think that Dr. Richard L. Morgan, author of this guide, should