Alzheimer's disease may be affecting as many as five million people and as the Baby Boomer generation moves through retirement, that number could more than double. While there is not yet a cure for this disease - more feared than any other except cancer - this series shows there is now genuine reason to be optimistic about controlling and, eventually, eliminating it. Also takes a humane but honest look at the devastating effects of Alzheimer's on patients and those who love them.

*Viewable/printable discussion guides are available online
*An HBO Production

The four programs are also available separately:

THE MEMORY LOSS TAPES
This program puts a human face on the progression of Alzheimer's disease as it profiles seven people, ages 63 to 87, at different stages of the illness. Cases range from a woman fiercely holding onto her independence even as memory lapses make it harder and harder to do so, to a man who can no longer remember his family yet can still perform beautifully with a vocal group, to a woman who must be fenced in, literally, to keep her from wandering off her daughter's property. "We wanted to capture a sense of what it was to be inside the disease," says filmmaker Shari Cookson. "You see how everything you've learned and been in your life is stripped away - yet you still get these glimmers of the person." 85 minutes

GRANDPA, DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? with Maria Shriver
Based on the book What's Happening to Grandpa? by Maria Shriver, this program tells the stories of five children, ages 6 through 15, who are confronted by the effects of Alzheimer's disease on their grandparents. Commentary by Shriver, whose father has Alzheimer's, offers grandchildren of patients compassionate advice on how to cope with a beloved family member's gradual decline into dementia through these five case study "lessons". This program is a valuable resource both for young people and for counselors and healthcare professionals who provide guidance to children and their families. 30 minutes

MOMENTUM IN SCIENCE, Parts 1 and 2
Amidst the heartbreak of Alzheimer's disease, there is real reason for hope. This program goes inside the labs and clinics of 25 leading scientists and physicians who are seeking to discover how to better detect and diagnose the disease, delay the onset of memory loss, affect the brain changes associated with the disease, and ultimately prevent the disease altogether. Alzheimer's hallmark beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles are investigated, as well as relationships between Alzheimer's and vascular disease, diabetes, inflammation, genetics, exercise, and nutrition. Advanced imaging and diagnostic technologies and vaccine clinical trials are also discussed. 125 minutes

CAREGIVERS
Approximately 70 percent of people with Alzheimer's disease live at home and are cared for by family and friends - and the physical and emotional tolls on those caregivers can be extreme. Through five intimate portraits, this program illustrates the stages of Alzheimer's while documenting the sacrifices and successes, frustrations and triumphs, of caregivers experiencing a loved one's gradual descent into dementia. Issues such as denial and guilt are addressed, as are care-related changes in communication and intimacy. Caregiving tips, coping skills, and insights into the hidden rewards of Alzheimer's care are interwoven throughout. 50 minutes
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*Sub-titled