Alzheimer's Disease: Filmmakers Of A New PBS Film Spreads Awareness And Threat Posed By The 'Biggest Epidemic In Medical History'

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"I'm shocked that people are not panicked about what this disease is going to do to the country or to their families," Dr. Rudolph Tanzi said in regards to Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is a mental condition that occurs mostly in a middle or old-aged individual. It is characterized by having problems with thinking, behavior, and memory.

Daisy Duarte and her mother Sonja are featured in a documentary film entitled "Alzheimer's: Every Minute Counts." Sonja suffers from a type of dementia known as Alzheimer's disease. Every day, her daughter takes care of her.

Daisy gives her a bath, changes her clothes, feeds her, and does her best to give her mom a meaningful life as much as possible. "She hasn't said my name in a long time," Daisy said. "When I ask her who I am, she says, 'Mom.' I say, 'I'm not your mom. You're my mom." Sonja is just 61-years-old but she is already on Alzheimer's final stage as she has an early-onset or younger-onset of the disease. As stated by the Alzheimer's Association, 5 percent of over 5 million Americans suffers from Alzheimer's younger-onset.

Daisy's experience with her mom lets her find out what could be her future as she, too, has the gene for the younger-onset Alzheimer's. Out of Sonja's three children, she's the only one who has the courage to find out whether she has the gene or not as she wants to help herself. She has also participated in a clinical trial at Washington University to help in acquiring additional funds that would help find cure for the disease.

"Alzheimer's: Every Minute Counts", the new documentary film that features Daisy and her mother's story will be premiered on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, 10 PM ET on PBS. This is a way for the filmmakers to promote about the disease that will serve as a wake-call about the threat posed by the condition.