My talk in Stoughton, had about 35 people. It was powerful. Most were family members of persons with Alzheimer's.

The exciting part was sharing from the audience. One man in his 90's reported that he lost his wife to ALS. Now his 49 year-old son is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Could there be a gene connection, he asked? I told him about Dr. Brooks who said there is a possibility that Alzheimer's is a type of ALS. He and the audience really started thinking outside the box!

I also met two women our age (early sixties). One has a mother with Alzheimer's and lots of siblings. She stayed and talked a long time. She bought photos and finally felt some hope.

Another is married to a man whose mother has Alzheimer's. Both were interested in sending children to the camp.
 
My media “blitz” in Madison went well. Thanks to Steve Van Dinter from St. Mary’s for setting up the interviews on NBC News15, WKOW-TV and WIBA-AM. Carleen Wild from NBC15 News asked me to prepare 5 points to share with the audience. I’ve listed them below.

 
1. One third of families in WI are affected by a dementia, Alzheimer's being most common.
2. "Early onset" means symptoms by age 60, often in the forties; Many had mothers with a neurological disease.
3. Seek help early for sleep issues, falling, clumsiness, weakness, irritability, silent seizures, or any neurological change.

4. Improve nutrition, avoid contaminants, monitor medications, get rest, engage socially, physically, and intellectually, and connect with nature and the community. 

5. Contact www.alz.org/scwisc http://www.alzwisc.org/  or (608)232-3400 for summer camp for youth connected to someone with memory issues.