Father’s Day on a Journey with Alzheimer’s

I was scared at first. Even though I had been raised in a family of ten, had been married at the time for six years (of 43 years of marriage), and desperately wanted children, I was scared. Thoughts of becoming a father intimidated me. I was worried about the money, new responsibilities, and all the sleepless nights they would bring. I was afraid I would fail. But on July 13, 1983, in a basement delivery room at Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Brendan McGeorge O’Brien was born, and Father’s Day had new meaning. He weighed in at nine pounds, two

SEN. CAPITO: Alzheimer’s disease is devastating families – We must make it a national priority

This article was originally published by Fox News on June 6, 2019. He alth care is a subject that remains front and center in so many of our national conversations and debates. It’s a leading talking point among 2020 presidential candidates. It continues to poll as a top concern among the American public. And it’s something I hear about regularly from constituents back home in West Virginia. Much of the talk related to health care issues has to do with flashier or more controversial topics such as "Medicare for All" or prescription drug prices, and there are good reasons for

Brain Health Equity Insights - May 2019

We’re thrilled to bring you the second edition of Brain Health Equity Insights, a platform that highlights UsAgainstAlzheimer’s (UsA2) intersectional approach to understanding and addressing brain health disparities through community engagement, research, health practice, and policy.

Physicians & Caregivers: A needed partnership in the fight against Alzheimer’s

“How are you doing?” That simple, common question conveys caring and concern. Nearly a decade ago, the American College of Physicians (ACP) recommended that doctors ask this question of those who care for older or chronically ill patients. But according to a new A-LIST® survey, caregivers don’t hear those words often enough from health care providers. The A-LIST® is an online community of individuals living with or caring for those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Members participate in various studies and research projects, providing unique, self-reported data that represents the voice of the patient and caregiver community. This caregiver-focused

A Call to Connect

The calendar in my phone has two alerts that pop up every year on this day. One is “Mother’s Day!” and the second is “Call Mom!” Turns out I’m not the only one. Mother’s Day is the single highest call volume day in the United States, amounting to a 37% spike in phone traffic. Even though my mother passed away two years ago from Alzheimer’s disease, I can’t bear to delete the reminder in my calendar to call her. Seeing it there makes me somehow feel closer to her. My mom was one of my favorite people to talk to