[Applause] good evening
good evening
good evening you know after having worked for so many
you know after having worked for so many
you know after having worked for so many years as an evening news anchor I have
years as an evening news anchor I have
years as an evening news anchor I have to tell you just for a moment I was
to tell you just for a moment I was
to tell you just for a moment I was tempted to say good evening our top
tempted to say good evening our top
tempted to say good evening our top story tonight or good evening breaking
story tonight or good evening breaking
story tonight or good evening breaking news this just in the North town old
news this just in the North town old
news this just in the North town old habits die hard seriously the only thing
habits die hard seriously the only thing
habits die hard seriously the only thing in 24 years of anchoring the evening
in 24 years of anchoring the evening
in 24 years of anchoring the evening news that I was not allowed to say the
news that I was not allowed to say the
news that I was not allowed to say the only phrase was the big story is and
only phrase was the big story is and
only phrase was the big story is and that’s because that phrase is used by
that’s because that phrase is used by
that’s because that phrase is used by the competition which I know sounds a
the competition which I know sounds a
the competition which I know sounds a little silly and certainly that part of
little silly and certainly that part of
little silly and certainly that part of the job I don’t miss but what I do miss
the job I don’t miss but what I do miss
the job I don’t miss but what I do miss is the opportunity to tell important
is the opportunity to tell important
is the opportunity to tell important stories big stories stories that matter
stories big stories stories that matter
stories big stories stories that matter which is why I am so very excited and so
which is why I am so very excited and so
which is why I am so very excited and so very passionate about being here with
very passionate about being here with
very passionate about being here with you tonight because I have a big story I
you tonight because I have a big story I
you tonight because I have a big story I get to say that now I have a big story
get to say that now I have a big story
get to say that now I have a big story to tell but it’s an untold story and I
to tell but it’s an untold story and I
to tell but it’s an untold story and I want to change that I would like for us
want to change that I would like for us
want to change that I would like for us to engage in some upside-down thinking I
to engage in some upside-down thinking I
to engage in some upside-down thinking I want us to turn thinking on its head now
want us to turn thinking on its head now
want us to turn thinking on its head now as it turns out we’ve all had a lot of
as it turns out we’ve all had a lot of
as it turns out we’ve all had a lot of experience with that given the past year
experience with that given the past year
experience with that given the past year that we’ve had 2017 was the year of
that we’ve had 2017 was the year of
that we’ve had 2017 was the year of upside-down thinking wasn’t it when
upside-down thinking wasn’t it when
upside-down thinking wasn’t it when events and occurrences challenged
events and occurrences challenged
events and occurrences challenged everything we had been led to believe we
everything we had been led to believe we
everything we had been led to believe we were forced to conceive the
were forced to conceive the
were forced to conceive the inconceivable imagine the unimaginable
inconceivable imagine the unimaginable
inconceivable imagine the unimaginable and accept the unacceptable like for
and accept the unacceptable like for
and accept the unacceptable like for example a president who instead of
example a president who instead of
example a president who instead of encouraging optimism and hope and unity
encouraging optimism and hope and unity
encouraging optimism and hope and unity does just the opposite or an act of
does just the opposite or an act of
does just the opposite or an act of Mother Nature that forced us to accept
Mother Nature that forced us to accept
Mother Nature that forced us to accept not just one hurricane in a season
not just one hurricane in a season
not just one hurricane in a season but three now I know all those examples
but three now I know all those examples
but three now I know all those examples I just gave you we’re very negative and
I just gave you we’re very negative and
I just gave you we’re very negative and that’s not what I’m seeking to do with
that’s not what I’m seeking to do with
that’s not what I’m seeking to do with this upside-down thinking tonight what
this upside-down thinking tonight what
this upside-down thinking tonight what I want us to do is through looking at
I want us to do is through looking at
I want us to do is through looking at something through a different lens a
something through a different lens a
something through a different lens a different perspective to help us all
different perspective to help us all
different perspective to help us all start to tell this untold story about a
start to tell this untold story about a
start to tell this untold story about a disease that we probably think we know
disease that we probably think we know
disease that we probably think we know about but that well my goal here tonight
about but that well my goal here tonight
about but that well my goal here tonight is to show you that perhaps there are
is to show you that perhaps there are
is to show you that perhaps there are some things you don’t know about it and
some things you don’t know about it and
some things you don’t know about it and I’m talking about Alzheimer’s now
I’m talking about Alzheimer’s now
I’m talking about Alzheimer’s now certainly it’s been in the news a lot
certainly it’s been in the news a lot
certainly it’s been in the news a lot lately
lately
lately Bill Gates just earlier this week
Bill Gates just earlier this week
Bill Gates just earlier this week announced that he was going to give a
announced that he was going to give a
announced that he was going to give a hundred million dollars of his own money
hundred million dollars of his own money
hundred million dollars of his own money to help find a cure and just a few
to help find a cure and just a few
to help find a cure and just a few months ago the the Postal Service
months ago the the Postal Service
months ago the the Postal Service announced that they were issuing a
announced that they were issuing a
announced that they were issuing a commemorative stamp and that’s a great
commemorative stamp and that’s a great
commemorative stamp and that’s a great thing because any time these
thing because any time these
thing because any time these commemorative stamps come out that means
commemorative stamps come out that means
commemorative stamps come out that means that much-needed dollars are poured into
that much-needed dollars are poured into
that much-needed dollars are poured into research let’s do some upside-down
research let’s do some upside-down
research let’s do some upside-down thinking the face on the stamp is of a
thinking the face on the stamp is of a
thinking the face on the stamp is of a very gentle very kind looking elderly
very gentle very kind looking elderly
very gentle very kind looking elderly white woman upside down thinking that is
white woman upside down thinking that is
white woman upside down thinking that is not the face of Alzheimer’s hers is not
not the face of Alzheimer’s hers is not
not the face of Alzheimer’s hers is not the face of Alzheimer’s please don’t get
the face of Alzheimer’s please don’t get
the face of Alzheimer’s please don’t get me wrong don’t misunderstand
me wrong don’t misunderstand
me wrong don’t misunderstand obviously elderly white men and women
obviously elderly white men and women
obviously elderly white men and women suffer from Alzheimer’s and it’s a
suffer from Alzheimer’s and it’s a
suffer from Alzheimer’s and it’s a horrific disease having nothing at all
horrific disease having nothing at all
horrific disease having nothing at all to do with your race and we have empathy
to do with your race and we have empathy
to do with your race and we have empathy we have sympathy for anyone going
we have sympathy for anyone going
we have sympathy for anyone going through this but when you start talking
through this but when you start talking
through this but when you start talking about the face of Alzheimer’s all the
about the face of Alzheimer’s all the
about the face of Alzheimer’s all the research tells us that if you are
research tells us that if you are
research tells us that if you are african-american if you are Native
african-american if you are Native
african-american if you are Native American or you were Hispanic you are
American or you were Hispanic you are
American or you were Hispanic you are twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s and
twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s and
twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s and when you talk about the economic burden
when you talk about the economic burden
when you talk about the economic burden of this disease dr. Darrell Gaskin at
of this disease dr. Darrell Gaskin at
of this disease dr. Darrell Gaskin at Johns Hopkins University did a study
Johns Hopkins University did a study
Johns Hopkins University did a study where he said looking just at African
where he said looking just at African
where he said looking just at African Americans we’re about thirteen point six
Americans we’re about thirteen point six
Americans we’re about thirteen point six percent of the population and yet when
percent of the population and yet when
percent of the population and yet when you look at the economic burden
you look at the economic burden
you look at the economic burden one-third of the cost of Alzheimer’s is
one-third of the cost of Alzheimer’s is
one-third of the cost of Alzheimer’s is shouldered by African Americans that’s
shouldered by African Americans that’s
shouldered by African Americans that’s because most of the cost associated with
because most of the cost associated with
because most of the cost associated with Alzheimer’s has to do with caregiving so
Alzheimer’s has to do with caregiving so
Alzheimer’s has to do with caregiving so why are we more at risk and what exactly
why are we more at risk and what exactly
why are we more at risk and what exactly is this disease we’ll get into that in
is this disease we’ll get into that in
is this disease we’ll get into that in just a little bit
just a little bit
just a little bit but first let’s do a little bit more
but first let’s do a little bit more
but first let’s do a little bit more this upside down thinking we’ve already
this upside down thinking we’ve already
this upside down thinking we’ve already talked about the face of Alzheimer’s now
talked about the face of Alzheimer’s now
talked about the face of Alzheimer’s now I want you to look at sort of what we
I want you to look at sort of what we
I want you to look at sort of what we expect as the way of the world the
expect as the way of the world the
expect as the way of the world the natural order of things the natural
natural order of things the natural
natural order of things the natural order of things is you’re raised by
order of things is you’re raised by
order of things is you’re raised by let’s say your parents or maybe a
let’s say your parents or maybe a
let’s say your parents or maybe a grandparent or an aunt or a caregiver
grandparent or an aunt or a caregiver
grandparent or an aunt or a caregiver you grow up you venture out into the
you grow up you venture out into the
you grow up you venture out into the world you meet someone you have a child
world you meet someone you have a child
world you meet someone you have a child we’ve all seen the circle of life from
we’ve all seen the circle of life from
we’ve all seen the circle of life from The Lion King we know how that works
The Lion King we know how that works
The Lion King we know how that works except in the upside-down world of
except in the upside-down world of
except in the upside-down world of Alzheimer’s because that circle of life
Alzheimer’s because that circle of life
Alzheimer’s because that circle of life actually goes in Reverse
actually goes in Reverse
actually goes in Reverse you may now be an adult a parent with a
you may now be an adult a parent with a
you may now be an adult a parent with a child of your own and yet your parent
child of your own and yet your parent
child of your own and yet your parent due to no fault of their own now needs
due to no fault of their own now needs
due to no fault of their own now needs you to do everything for them that was
you to do everything for them that was
you to do everything for them that was done for you as a child everything from
done for you as a child everything from
done for you as a child everything from watching them to bathing them to helping
watching them to bathing them to helping
watching them to bathing them to helping them with the most personal of bodily
them with the most personal of bodily
them with the most personal of bodily functions let’s look at relationships
functions let’s look at relationships
functions let’s look at relationships personal relationships sexual
personal relationships sexual
personal relationships sexual relationships we all expect our husbands
relationships we all expect our husbands
relationships we all expect our husbands and our wives to be faithful and when
and our wives to be faithful and when
and our wives to be faithful and when they’re not all hell breaks loose right
they’re not all hell breaks loose right
they’re not all hell breaks loose right seriously there is nothing more painful
seriously there is nothing more painful
seriously there is nothing more painful nothing more unaccepted in our society
nothing more unaccepted in our society
nothing more unaccepted in our society than infidelity unless you’re talking
than infidelity unless you’re talking
than infidelity unless you’re talking about the upside-down world of
about the upside-down world of
about the upside-down world of Alzheimer’s because if your spouse
Alzheimer’s because if your spouse
Alzheimer’s because if your spouse doesn’t recognize you and they’re in a
doesn’t recognize you and they’re in a
doesn’t recognize you and they’re in a care facility and they meet somebody or
care facility and they meet somebody or
care facility and they meet somebody or they make an inappropriate comment to
they make an inappropriate comment to
they make an inappropriate comment to someone maybe even a family member
someone maybe even a family member
someone maybe even a family member sexual you have to look at that
sexual you have to look at that
sexual you have to look at that interaction differently because of this
interaction differently because of this
interaction differently because of this disease taking it one step further your
disease taking it one step further your
disease taking it one step further your spouse has Alzheimer’s you’re fine but
spouse has Alzheimer’s you’re fine but
spouse has Alzheimer’s you’re fine but you have needs and yes you took a vow to
you have needs and yes you took a vow to
you have needs and yes you took a vow to honor till death do you part but in a
honor till death do you part but in a
honor till death do you part but in a sense isn’t this a form of death let’s
sense isn’t this a form of death let’s
sense isn’t this a form of death let’s take a little break from this upside
take a little break from this upside
take a little break from this upside down thinking because it really can kind
down thinking because it really can kind
down thinking because it really can kind of make you a little dizzy
of make you a little dizzy
of make you a little dizzy what exactly is the disease and why are
what exactly is the disease and why are
what exactly is the disease and why are we as african-americans Hispanics Native
we as african-americans Hispanics Native
we as african-americans Hispanics Native Americans more at risk first what is the
Americans more at risk first what is the
Americans more at risk first what is the disease I am 60 years old and on any
disease I am 60 years old and on any
disease I am 60 years old and on any given day I can walk into a room get
given day I can walk into a room get
given day I can walk into a room get halfway into the room and say what in
halfway into the room and say what in
halfway into the room and say what in the heck did I come in here for or on
the heck did I come in here for or on
the heck did I come in here for or on any given day drive my mom drive my
any given day drive my mom drive my
any given day drive my mom drive my daughter crazy saying you know where is
daughter crazy saying you know where is
daughter crazy saying you know where is my phone has anybody seen my keys
my phone has anybody seen my keys
my phone has anybody seen my keys that is not Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s is a
that is not Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s is a
that is not Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s is a disease in the brain that I guess the
disease in the brain that I guess the
disease in the brain that I guess the best way to sort of describe it now wish
best way to sort of describe it now wish
best way to sort of describe it now wish we had a diagram here so I’m gonna ask
we had a diagram here so I’m gonna ask
we had a diagram here so I’m gonna ask you to sort of play along with me on
you to sort of play along with me on
you to sort of play along with me on this but our brains a hundred million
this but our brains a hundred million
this but our brains a hundred million neurons in your brain neurons are
neurons in your brain neurons are
neurons in your brain neurons are basically information cells neuron a
basically information cells neuron a
basically information cells neuron a sending information to neuron B through
sending information to neuron B through
sending information to neuron B through the space that the information is able
the space that the information is able
the space that the information is able to transfer through that’s what happens
to transfer through that’s what happens
to transfer through that’s what happens in a healthy brain but in a brain with
in a healthy brain but in a brain with
in a healthy brain but in a brain with Alzheimer’s that space that I’m talking
Alzheimer’s that space that I’m talking
Alzheimer’s that space that I’m talking about
about
about well these sticky clumps of protein
well these sticky clumps of protein
well these sticky clumps of protein researchers experts call it amyloid beta
researchers experts call it amyloid beta
researchers experts call it amyloid beta or they call it a plaque well that
or they call it a plaque well that
or they call it a plaque well that starts to form in those spaces so now
starts to form in those spaces so now
starts to form in those spaces so now the information cannot go from neuron a
the information cannot go from neuron a
the information cannot go from neuron a to neuron B and as that information just
to neuron B and as that information just
to neuron B and as that information just sort of poof’s goes away those cells
sort of poof’s goes away those cells
sort of poof’s goes away those cells which are responsible for transmitting
which are responsible for transmitting
which are responsible for transmitting the information they die and as they die
the information they die and as they die
the information they die and as they die so dies memories first short-term
so dies memories first short-term
so dies memories first short-term memories then long-term memories then
memories then long-term memories then
memories then long-term memories then the memory on how to speak and
the memory on how to speak and
the memory on how to speak and eventually unless there’s some sort of
eventually unless there’s some sort of
eventually unless there’s some sort of secondary illness this disease
secondary illness this disease
secondary illness this disease eventually progresses to the stage when
eventually progresses to the stage when
eventually progresses to the stage when you die there is no cure there is no
you die there is no cure there is no
you die there is no cure there is no treatment that is the what of this
treatment that is the what of this
treatment that is the what of this horrific disease now let’s get to the
horrific disease now let’s get to the
horrific disease now let’s get to the why why are we as african-americans as
why why are we as african-americans as
why why are we as african-americans as Hispanics as Native Americans more at
Hispanics as Native Americans more at
Hispanics as Native Americans more at risk well certainly for a very small
risk well certainly for a very small
risk well certainly for a very small percentage of the population if you and
percentage of the population if you and
percentage of the population if you and this has nothing to do with race this is
this has nothing to do with race this is
this has nothing to do with race this is if you’re black or white brown
if you’re black or white brown
if you’re black or white brown doesn’t matter if you have a certain
doesn’t matter if you have a certain
doesn’t matter if you have a certain combination of a genetic mutation you’re
combination of a genetic mutation you’re
combination of a genetic mutation you’re going to get Alzheimer’s but that’s a
going to get Alzheimer’s but that’s a
going to get Alzheimer’s but that’s a very small percentage for the rest of
very small percentage for the rest of
very small percentage for the rest of people of the people when you talk about
people of the people when you talk about
people of the people when you talk about why we are more at risk well I’ve asked
why we are more at risk well I’ve asked
why we are more at risk well I’ve asked this a lot of doctors and researchers
this a lot of doctors and researchers
this a lot of doctors and researchers and they’ll start off by telling you
and they’ll start off by telling you
and they’ll start off by telling you they really don’t know why we’re more at
they really don’t know why we’re more at
they really don’t know why we’re more at risk but they do have some indicators
risk but they do have some indicators
risk but they do have some indicators one of the indicators has to do with
one of the indicators has to do with
one of the indicators has to do with certain diseases which puts you at risk
certain diseases which puts you at risk
certain diseases which puts you at risk diseases like hypertension and heart
diseases like hypertension and heart
diseases like hypertension and heart disease and stroke and diabetes and
disease and stroke and diabetes and
disease and stroke and diabetes and right now you’re starting to get the
right now you’re starting to get the
right now you’re starting to get the picture because if these are diseases
picture because if these are diseases
picture because if these are diseases which put you more at risk these are
which put you more at risk these are
which put you more at risk these are also diseases which disproportionately
also diseases which disproportionately
also diseases which disproportionately impact and affect African Americans and
impact and affect African Americans and
impact and affect African Americans and Hispanics and Native Americans so now
Hispanics and Native Americans so now
Hispanics and Native Americans so now you see the correlation if these are
you see the correlation if these are
you see the correlation if these are diseases that are increase your risk and
diseases that are increase your risk and
diseases that are increase your risk and these are diseases that
these are diseases that
these are diseases that disproportionately impact marginalized
disproportionately impact marginalized
disproportionately impact marginalized communities we understand why that’s a
communities we understand why that’s a
communities we understand why that’s a problem another issue stress my god are
problem another issue stress my god are
problem another issue stress my god are we not the most stressed people on the
we not the most stressed people on the
we not the most stressed people on the planet seriously stress researchers in
planet seriously stress researchers in
planet seriously stress researchers in Sweden tell us that when they look at
Sweden tell us that when they look at
Sweden tell us that when they look at mice mice they’re stressed and I’m not
mice mice they’re stressed and I’m not
mice mice they’re stressed and I’m not quite sure how they stress the mice but
quite sure how they stress the mice but
quite sure how they stress the mice but mice that are stressed have memory
mice that are stressed have memory
mice that are stressed have memory issues when they do autopsies on the
issues when they do autopsies on the
issues when they do autopsies on the brains of these mice once again they
brains of these mice once again they
brains of these mice once again they find these sorts of clumps of toxic
find these sorts of clumps of toxic
find these sorts of clumps of toxic protein that we were talking about the
protein that we were talking about the
protein that we were talking about the same sorts of things that are in the
same sorts of things that are in the
same sorts of things that are in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s one of
brains of people with Alzheimer’s one of
brains of people with Alzheimer’s one of the things that I used to hear about a
the things that I used to hear about a
the things that I used to hear about a lot when I was doing the news one of the
lot when I was doing the news one of the
lot when I was doing the news one of the criticisms is that every day we’d be
criticisms is that every day we’d be
criticisms is that every day we’d be coming to your home and we would give
coming to your home and we would give
coming to your home and we would give you nothing but problem have – problem
you nothing but problem have – problem
you nothing but problem have – problem after problem seldom were there any
after problem seldom were there any
after problem seldom were there any solutions true to form I’ve come here
solutions true to form I’ve come here
solutions true to form I’ve come here tonight and I’ve laid out a host of
tonight and I’ve laid out a host of
tonight and I’ve laid out a host of problems there are some solutions of it
problems there are some solutions of it
problems there are some solutions of it I just briefly want to talk about when
I just briefly want to talk about when
I just briefly want to talk about when you talk about diseases that put you at
you talk about diseases that put you at
you talk about diseases that put you at risk like diabetes heart disease all the
risk like diabetes heart disease all the
risk like diabetes heart disease all the research says that in most instances
research says that in most instances
research says that in most instances certainly not all but in most instance
certainly not all but in most instance
certainly not all but in most instance is a lifestyle change changing how you
is a lifestyle change changing how you
is a lifestyle change changing how you eat exercise makes a difference stress
eat exercise makes a difference stress
eat exercise makes a difference stress there are things we can do in terms of
there are things we can do in terms of
there are things we can do in terms of something as simple as breathing
something as simple as breathing
something as simple as breathing exercises or meditation makes a
exercises or meditation makes a
exercises or meditation makes a difference with stress one of the best
difference with stress one of the best
difference with stress one of the best things we can do when we talk about a
things we can do when we talk about a
things we can do when we talk about a solution for Alzheimer’s is get involved
solution for Alzheimer’s is get involved
solution for Alzheimer’s is get involved in a clinical trial now I know when you
in a clinical trial now I know when you
in a clinical trial now I know when you say clinical trial if we can have like
say clinical trial if we can have like
say clinical trial if we can have like thought bubbles out there there would be
thought bubbles out there there would be
thought bubbles out there there would be one thought bubble that says I don’t
one thought bubble that says I don’t
one thought bubble that says I don’t want to be experimented on and there
want to be experimented on and there
want to be experimented on and there would be another thought bubble that
would be another thought bubble that
would be another thought bubble that says I’m not interested in being a
says I’m not interested in being a
says I’m not interested in being a guinea pig
guinea pig
guinea pig and the third thought bubble way back
and the third thought bubble way back
and the third thought bubble way back there would be don’t you remember the
there would be don’t you remember the
there would be don’t you remember the Tuskegee syphilis experiments and
Tuskegee syphilis experiments and
Tuskegee syphilis experiments and certainly that happened from the 30s to
certainly that happened from the 30s to
certainly that happened from the 30s to the 70s african-american men were
the 70s african-american men were
the 70s african-american men were experimented on they were exposed to
experimented on they were exposed to
experimented on they were exposed to syphilis it was not allowed to be
syphilis it was not allowed to be
syphilis it was not allowed to be treated they suffered they died that is
treated they suffered they died that is
treated they suffered they died that is a fact but what is also a fact is that
a fact but what is also a fact is that
a fact but what is also a fact is that after that safeguards were implemented
after that safeguards were implemented
after that safeguards were implemented to make sure that that could not happen
to make sure that that could not happen
to make sure that that could not happen again
again
again there is a pioneering geneticist and
there is a pioneering geneticist and
there is a pioneering geneticist and biologist named dr. Goldie Byrd who is
biologist named dr. Goldie Byrd who is
biologist named dr. Goldie Byrd who is at North Carolina A&T she has not only
at North Carolina A&T she has not only
at North Carolina A&T she has not only looked at the genetic link between
looked at the genetic link between
looked at the genetic link between Alzheimer’s and african-americans she’s
Alzheimer’s and african-americans she’s
Alzheimer’s and african-americans she’s also worked on coming up with a protocol
also worked on coming up with a protocol
also worked on coming up with a protocol for clinical trials that don’t just
for clinical trials that don’t just
for clinical trials that don’t just increase participation but also engage
increase participation but also engage
increase participation but also engage communities and see what communities
communities and see what communities
communities and see what communities need and go into individuals homes to
need and go into individuals homes to
need and go into individuals homes to bring them into the clinical trial
bring them into the clinical trial
bring them into the clinical trial process that is serving as a model for
process that is serving as a model for
process that is serving as a model for clinical trials and it’s important to
clinical trials and it’s important to
clinical trials and it’s important to emphasize that the only way we’re going
emphasize that the only way we’re going
emphasize that the only way we’re going to get a cure or even a treatment is
to get a cure or even a treatment is
to get a cure or even a treatment is through a clinical trial and right now
through a clinical trial and right now
through a clinical trial and right now african-americans Hispanics Native
african-americans Hispanics Native
african-americans Hispanics Native Americans woefully underrepresented in
Americans woefully underrepresented in
Americans woefully underrepresented in clinical trials now I look out here and
clinical trials now I look out here and
clinical trials now I look out here and I see most of you are very young you
I see most of you are very young you
I see most of you are very young you look like you’re near 20s your 30s your
look like you’re near 20s your 30s your
look like you’re near 20s your 30s your 40s and I’m sure you’re thinking yes I
40s and I’m sure you’re thinking yes I
40s and I’m sure you’re thinking yes I have empathy from my parents my
have empathy from my parents my
have empathy from my parents my grandparents you may even think I have
grandparents you may even think I have
grandparents you may even think I have empathy for Renee she’s at that age
empathy for Renee she’s at that age
empathy for Renee she’s at that age the truth is by the time someone my age
the truth is by the time someone my age
the truth is by the time someone my age starts to show symptoms of Alzheimer’s
starts to show symptoms of Alzheimer’s
starts to show symptoms of Alzheimer’s those toxic plaque the clumps that I was
those toxic plaque the clumps that I was
those toxic plaque the clumps that I was talking about they have been developing
talking about they have been developing
talking about they have been developing for decades so all the research is now
for decades so all the research is now
for decades so all the research is now looking at individuals in their 20s
looking at individuals in their 20s
looking at individuals in their 20s their 30s and 40s getting them involved
their 30s and 40s getting them involved
their 30s and 40s getting them involved because that’s where the best hope is in
because that’s where the best hope is in
because that’s where the best hope is in terms of getting at this plaque in terms
terms of getting at this plaque in terms
terms of getting at this plaque in terms of trying to find a treatment I just
of trying to find a treatment I just
of trying to find a treatment I just want to say something real quick about
want to say something real quick about
want to say something real quick about the solutions that I had touched on just
the solutions that I had touched on just
the solutions that I had touched on just a few moments ago about how if you
a few moments ago about how if you
a few moments ago about how if you change how you eat and if you exercise
change how you eat and if you exercise
change how you eat and if you exercise that’s certainly a way to get at some of
that’s certainly a way to get at some of
that’s certainly a way to get at some of these risk factors for certain diseases
these risk factors for certain diseases
these risk factors for certain diseases that was accurate but it wasn’t really
that was accurate but it wasn’t really
that was accurate but it wasn’t really honest because if an expert says to you
honest because if an expert says to you
honest because if an expert says to you yes you can through healthy eating
yes you can through healthy eating
yes you can through healthy eating eliminate diabetes and yet you live in a
eliminate diabetes and yet you live in a
eliminate diabetes and yet you live in a community where there are no outlets for
community where there are no outlets for
community where there are no outlets for healthy food or you don’t have access to
healthy food or you don’t have access to
healthy food or you don’t have access to quality education that’s going to
quality education that’s going to
quality education that’s going to prepare you for the job to make the
prepare you for the job to make the
prepare you for the job to make the money to buy the healthy food then
money to buy the healthy food then
money to buy the healthy food then that’s not really an honest solution or
that’s not really an honest solution or
that’s not really an honest solution or if you tell people to exercise and there
if you tell people to exercise and there
if you tell people to exercise and there are no green spaces in our community or
are no green spaces in our community or
are no green spaces in our community or you step outside your door and it’s
you step outside your door and it’s
you step outside your door and it’s broken pavement and it’s unsafe again
broken pavement and it’s unsafe again
broken pavement and it’s unsafe again not an honest solution and when we look
not an honest solution and when we look
not an honest solution and when we look at solutions to these problems these
at solutions to these problems these
at solutions to these problems these inequalities whether it’s an access to
inequalities whether it’s an access to
inequalities whether it’s an access to health care or healthy food or adequate
health care or healthy food or adequate
health care or healthy food or adequate housing or education when we look to the
housing or education when we look to the
housing or education when we look to the institution’s for solutions to those
institution’s for solutions to those
institution’s for solutions to those problems we tend to look to our elected
problems we tend to look to our elected
problems we tend to look to our elected officials we tend to look to the courts
officials we tend to look to the courts
officials we tend to look to the courts we may look to our community activists
we may look to our community activists
we may look to our community activists and leaders maybe the media to shine a
and leaders maybe the media to shine a
and leaders maybe the media to shine a spotlight one more exercise and upside
spotlight one more exercise and upside
spotlight one more exercise and upside down on its side thinking is that I
down on its side thinking is that I
down on its side thinking is that I would suggest in addition to those
would suggest in addition to those
would suggest in addition to those institutions being called upon and they
institutions being called upon and they
institutions being called upon and they certainly have a responsibility to
certainly have a responsibility to
certainly have a responsibility to address these problems but one of the
address these problems but one of the
address these problems but one of the elements one of the aspects one of the
elements one of the aspects one of the
elements one of the aspects one of the group’s we need to look at are our
group’s we need to look at are our
group’s we need to look at are our doctors and our health care
doctors and our health care
doctors and our health care professionals because who is in a better
professionals because who is in a better
professionals because who is in a better position they are on the front
position they are on the front
position they are on the front lines they see the harmful effects of
lines they see the harmful effects of
lines they see the harmful effects of inadequate access to health care and
inadequate access to health care and
inadequate access to health care and quality food and inequalities in
quality food and inequalities in
quality food and inequalities in education so they get the problem after
education so they get the problem after
education so they get the problem after the problems already been created and
the problems already been created and
the problems already been created and asked to solve it more to the point
asked to solve it more to the point
asked to solve it more to the point whose voice is more respected who is
whose voice is more respected who is
whose voice is more respected who is more revered in our community than our
more revered in our community than our
more revered in our community than our doctors and our healthcare professionals
doctors and our healthcare professionals
doctors and our healthcare professionals so I would say that their voice needs to
so I would say that their voice needs to
so I would say that their voice needs to be brought into this body of people who
be brought into this body of people who
be brought into this body of people who are looking to address this problem
are looking to address this problem
are looking to address this problem before I was a journalist I was a lawyer
before I was a journalist I was a lawyer
before I was a journalist I was a lawyer and one of my personal heroes was and
and one of my personal heroes was and
and one of my personal heroes was and still is his Harvard Law Professor
still is his Harvard Law Professor
still is his Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree brilliant jurist
Charles Ogletree brilliant jurist
Charles Ogletree brilliant jurist scholar race theorist social activist
scholar race theorist social activist
scholar race theorist social activist for civil justice civil rights a mentor
for civil justice civil rights a mentor
for civil justice civil rights a mentor to generations of lawyers well when I
to generations of lawyers well when I
to generations of lawyers well when I was in college so unless you know it’s
was in college so unless you know it’s
was in college so unless you know it’s been a long time ago he was just a few
been a long time ago he was just a few
been a long time ago he was just a few years ahead of me in law school and we
years ahead of me in law school and we
years ahead of me in law school and we met on the steps of the Supreme Court it
met on the steps of the Supreme Court it
met on the steps of the Supreme Court it was the night before the landmark
was the night before the landmark
was the night before the landmark affirmative action education case the
affirmative action education case the
affirmative action education case the Bakke case the University of California
Bakke case the University of California
Bakke case the University of California Regents v Bakke and he’s talked to us I
Regents v Bakke and he’s talked to us I
Regents v Bakke and he’s talked to us I mean we had all night to kill because we
mean we had all night to kill because we
mean we had all night to kill because we were trying to get in for oral arguments
were trying to get in for oral arguments
were trying to get in for oral arguments the next morning he talked to me he
the next morning he talked to me he
the next morning he talked to me he talked to my best girlfriend we both
talked to my best girlfriend we both
talked to my best girlfriend we both were aspiring to be lawyers and he
were aspiring to be lawyers and he
were aspiring to be lawyers and he talked about how we all as future
talked about how we all as future
talked about how we all as future lawyers had a responsibility to use our
lawyers had a responsibility to use our
lawyers had a responsibility to use our voice to advocate on behalf of those who
voice to advocate on behalf of those who
voice to advocate on behalf of those who don’t have a voice now of course he went
don’t have a voice now of course he went
don’t have a voice now of course he went on to do just that my best girlfriend
on to do just that my best girlfriend
on to do just that my best girlfriend Pat she went on to become the Human
Pat she went on to become the Human
Pat she went on to become the Human Rights Commissioner of New York City for
Rights Commissioner of New York City for
Rights Commissioner of New York City for over a decade ironically professor
over a decade ironically professor
over a decade ironically professor Ogletree came here to Philadelphia about
Ogletree came here to Philadelphia about
Ogletree came here to Philadelphia about a year and a half ago and for the first
a year and a half ago and for the first
a year and a half ago and for the first time made the announcement that he has
time made the announcement that he has
time made the announcement that he has Alzheimer’s but that he was going to use
Alzheimer’s but that he was going to use
Alzheimer’s but that he was going to use his voice to advocate on behalf of all
his voice to advocate on behalf of all
his voice to advocate on behalf of all those african-american Hispanic and
those african-american Hispanic and
those african-american Hispanic and Native Americans who are
Native Americans who are
Native Americans who are disproportionately affected by this
disproportionately affected by this
disproportionately affected by this disease we all have a responsibility to
disease we all have a responsibility to
disease we all have a responsibility to use our voices to tell this untold story
use our voices to tell this untold story
use our voices to tell this untold story on behalf of our parents on behalf of
on behalf of our parents on behalf of
on behalf of our parents on behalf of our grandparents on behalf of ourselves
our grandparents on behalf of ourselves
our grandparents on behalf of ourselves on behalf of the Charles Ogletree z– of
on behalf of the Charles Ogletree z– of
on behalf of the Charles Ogletree z– of the world on behalf of all those people
the world on behalf of all those people
the world on behalf of all those people who can’t use their voice right now
who can’t use their voice right now
who can’t use their voice right now because they are in the throes of
because they are in the throes of
because they are in the throes of battling this disease that is the untold
battling this disease that is the untold
battling this disease that is the untold story that each one of us has a
story that each one of us has a
story that each one of us has a responsibility to tell until the day
responsibility to tell until the day
responsibility to tell until the day comes when somebody can get up here and
comes when somebody can get up here and
comes when somebody can get up here and say the big story is we have a cure
”
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