The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer’s

The goal of the 90-minute documentary The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer’s is to help Americans better understand and cope with the fearsome disease of Alzheimer’s. Based on David Shenk’s extraordinary best-selling book, The Forgetting—Alzheimer’s: Portrait of an Epidemic, the program weaves together the history and biology of the disease, the intense real-world experiences of Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers, and the race to find a cure.

In the spring of 2004, KET produced Alzheimer’s in Kentucky, a 30-minute companion program that brought together local experts to discuss the many resources available for Kentucky patients and caregivers, the importance of early diagnosis, planning for legal eventualities, and the latest in national and local research. That program is available for viewing online. (Requires RealPlayer®; see our help page for more information.)

The expert panelists for Alzheimer’s in Kentucky are

• Dr. David A. Casey, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Louisville
• Dr. Joseph E. Gaugler, a researcher in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at the University of Kentucky
• Alison Serey, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association of Kentucky and Southern Indiana
• Omelia Thornton, LCSW, chair of the Lexington Area Alzheimer’s Association Public Policy Committee

The program is hosted by KET’s Judy Flavell.

Alzheimer’s in Kentucky Video | Help with RealPlayer

To learn more about Alzheimer’s:

• Download the companion discussion guide—a great starting point for talking with others about recognizing and coping with Alzheimer’s (in PDF format).
• Visit the companion web site to The Forgetting at PBS Online for background on the disease, personal stories from those living with it, and even online activities you can do with someone who has Alzheimer’s.
• See our Resources page for a list of Kentucky Alzheimer’s organizations, with links and contact information.
• Our Coping page offers advice on dealing with Alzheimer’s disease within your own family, while Getting Involved lists some volunteer and advocacy opportunities.

Need Help Right Now?

Contact the Alzheimer’s Association for emotional support, local resources, and information about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias:

(800) 272-3900
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
140 languages and dialects served