There are 4 new short “pocket” films about Alzheimer’s disease out and available for open use. They are made by the team that brought us The Forgetting (the film and book). David Shenk, author of The Forgetting, wrote and directed the pieces. Naomi Boak (exec. producer of the Forgetting), Dr. Steven DeKosky, Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, and Geri Hall (PhD) advised.
The animations, by Jossie Malis, are simple, playful, inventive, and inviting. They encourage us to take in the frightening facts and figures in a way that a talking head, no matter how authoritative or famous, could ever do.
The 4 pocket films tackle separate issues, including: What is Alzheimer’s Disease?; An Urgent Epidemic; The Race to the Cure; and A Message for the Patients and their Families. I think they will be very important tools for relaying the urgent message that Alzheimer’s Disease research needs greater public funding.
Do not look for the films to share any good news about research in social/care and treatment of people and families moving through the disease. There are no voices of people with the disease. Their length denies the possibility of nuance. The segment on Patients (patients? haven’t we moved past that?) and Families does calmly affirm that there are support systems available for people to get diagnosis/medical treatment, support groups, and assistance in financial arrangements. These films will potentially shape the concept of Alzheimer’s for the YouTube generation.
I’m all for raising awareness. But as always, my hope is that we can find a way to do it without simultaneously raising stigma. I remain a huge fan of the book – which is filled with nuance and which makes an elegant, contextualized argument for the humanizing of those who struggle with dementia, and the complicated world of scientific research and the prioritization of cure over care.
Hi Anne,
Thanks for the thorough write-up. It sounds like you’re worried that these films may contribute to stigma. How? My aim is to reduce stigma through education. I think the more people understand about Alzheimer’s the less they will be haunted by it. People will still fear it — any rational person fears the disease — but will hopefully be able to sweep away the irrational layer of terror that comes with not understanding.
If you have other thoughts on stigma, let me know.
- David