The Alzheimer's Project DVD Review
HBO’s Acclaimed Event focuses on the Horrific Disease
Jul 19, 2009
This 3-disc box set includes the highly acclaimed 4-part HBO presentation as well as over four hours of additional features. The documentary follows several Alzheimer’s patients and shows how they and their families cope with the disease. Seeing the different patients in various stages of the dreaded disease shows the progression from the initial diagnosis to the final stages.
Another aspect of this series is hosted by Maria Shriver, whose father is a victim of Alzheimer’s and who has written a children’s book to help kids understand the disease. In this episode Maria discusses how she has learned a lot from the way her kids interact with her father. There are also several kids in this episode who are themselves dealing with a grandparent who is suffering from the disease. Some of them are somewhat easy-going when it comes to being with their afflicted grandparent, while others find it overwhelming and depressing.
Scientists and doctors discuss the origin of the disease and how it affects the brain. Through research, the medical community is better equipped now than ever to deal with Alzheimer’s and to find a cure. By the time the baby-boomer generation reaches retirement age in 2011, this disease will be even more of an encumbrance on the medical community and the country.
Scientific Advances in Curing Alzheimer’s
Momentum in Science: The Supplementary Series adds over four more hours to this incredible set. The scientific/medical community is very close to solving the puzzle of Alzheimer’s and therefore close to finding a cure. Some of the experts believe there will be a cure in the next several years.
An experimental vaccine is undergoing research. The researchers have come a long way in a short time in understanding the disease and that puts them even closer to being able to stop it from ravaging another generation. Drug trials are well underway.
The features also include a look at the impact the disease poses on the financial aspect of the society, as well as the emotional side of life. Advances in imaging have also been front and center in helping the scientific community understand the brain and the affects of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s Affects More than the Patient
For anyone who has known a person with Alzheimer’s or has a family member afflicted with the disease, this is a must-see series. And for anyone who has been lucky enough to escape a personal connection with Alzheimer’s this is also something that should be seen, as sooner or later the disease will affect someone close to them.
Depressing? Yes it is. But the disease itself is depressing to think about and to see in a loved one. Hopeful? Yes. This series provides hope for anyone concerned about the disease. While it is a hard show to watch at times, there is more than a glimmer of hope injected in the series.
Besides the DVDs, there is a program guide included which features key information about the series.
The Alzheimer’s Project is rated TV-PG and runs in total 533 minutes.
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