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Alzheimer’s Association in the Spotlight at Academy Awards

The Oscars stage gives winners an opportunity to talk about causes that are near and dear to them. This year, thanks to its part in a big Oscar win, the Alzheimer’s Association felt some of that love.

The Oscars stage gives winners an opportunity to talk about causes that are near and dear to them. This year, thanks to its part in a big Oscar win, the Alzheimer’s Association felt some of that love.

When Julianne Moore accepted the Oscar for actress in a leading role at last Sunday’s 87th Annual Academy Awards, it was a huge win for Moore—her first Oscar in five nominations. It was also a major win for the Alzheimer’s Association, which played a big part in educating and preparing everyone involved with the production of Still Alice, a movie about early-onset Alzheimer’s disease—including Moore.

“I’m so happy—I’m thrilled actually that we were able to hopefully shine a light on Alzheimer’s disease,” she said in her acceptance speech. “So many people with this disease feel isolated and marginalized, and one of the wonderful things about movies is it makes us feel seen and not alone. And people with Alzheimer’s deserve to be seen, so that we can find a cure.”

On Monday, the Alzheimer’s Association congratulated Moore on her win.

“On behalf of the more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and their 15 million caregivers, huge congratulations to Julianne Moore for winning an Academy Award,” Chief Strategy Officer Angela Geiger said in a statement. “Her beautiful and thoughtful performance in Still Alice resonated with filmgoers and helped to elevate awareness and foster much-needed conversation about Alzheimer’s disease.”

During production of the film, the association helped ensure the screenwriting, directing, and acting all worked together to accurately portray what life is like with the disease. Alzheimer’s Association scientists, care experts, volunteers, and people living with the disease all lent a hand throughout.

Sandy Oltz is an early-onset Alzheimer’s patient who advised Moore on the film.

“I was so impressed by Julianne Moore throughout the process of the film; she truly listened and wanted to know everything about how it feels to live with Alzheimer’s disease,” Oltz, who was diagnosed at age 46, said in the statement. “I am so proud and impressed by how she brought the Alzheimer’s disease experience to life with ‘Alice.’ As someone who is on the same journey, all of the awards and accolades that have come to Julianne for her performance, including the Oscar, are so well deserved and so important to all of us with Alzheimer’s disease.”

The Alzheimer’s Association capitalized on the film’s success by launching a social media campaign to continue to raise awareness of, and encourage discussion about, the disease. The group asked its constituents to share photos of friends and family members living with Alzheimer’s using the hashtags #still[name] and #mybrain. Thousands responded, and the association created an online gallery on its website.

“Julianne Moore and the women behind Still Alice have helped ignite a national conversation with the film,” said Geiger. “Our hope is that their amazing work inspires others to join My Brain to truly change to course of Alzheimer’s disease for millions.”

Julianne Moore, who won a Best Actress Oscar for playing an early-onset Alzheimer's patient in "Still Alice." (Sony Pictures Classics)

Rob Stott

By Rob Stott

Rob Stott is a contributing editor for Associations Now. MORE

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