The Alzheimer's Project

This verité documentary profiles seven people living with the disease, each in an advancing state of dementia, from its earliest detectable changes through death. "We wanted to capture a sense of what it was to be inside the disease," explains Shari Cookson. "Our plan was to show the progression of the illness through several stories along the way." But as Nick Doob points out: "Theres nothing clear cut about it. The course of the disease is different from person to person." Adds Cookson: "They say if youve seen one person with Alzheimers...youve seen one person with Alzheimers."

This film tells five stories of children, ages 6-15, who are coping with grandfathers or grandmothers suffering from Alzheimers disease. Maria Shriver provides commentary and delivers valuable "lessons" for the kids, urging them not to blame themselves for what their grandparents do or say. "We are all children of Alzheimers," says Shriver, sympathetically making it clear that "if its too painful to visit, you dont have to go."

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