I know how frightening AD is, Sara, and I’m sorry it’s affected two of your grandparents; it’s only natural that you’d worry about your parents. But I really do believe that knowledge can be powerful; understanding the ways in which Alzheimer’s presents is important so that you know when it’s productive to worry about your parents, and when it’s not. I also think advocacy may be a helpful way to challenge the fear and anger that can accompany AD. We’re all facing an Alzheimer’s epidemic unless we collectively demand that our leaders put AD high on the health care agenda. We need to do everything we can as individuals and as a society to make sure that appropriate funding is available for expanded research, resources and support. You can really help—and that gives us a small element of control, but an important one.

Nancy Brinker, Susan G. Komen’s sister, made a promise to her dying sister that she would do everything possible to help put an end to breast cancer. Look at the difference one person has made.