keyboard_arrow_leftBack to Resources
Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.
New York, NY December 01, 2017
Helping to conclude National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Mediaplanet today announces the launch of this November’s edition of “Fighting Alzheimer’s.” This campaign will advocate for increased funding for research to move this deadly disease forward, as well as increased education about how to better the lives of those living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.
Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Not only does this disease have devastating effects on patients and their families, it’s also the nation’s most expensive condition to treat and care for. The average life expectancy of an Alzheimer’s patient is around 8 years after symptoms start becoming noticeable to others. With several drugs in trial, there is the potential to increase the life expectancy with further research and development. Even so, there remains a noticeable lack of urgency from the government to focus on funding research for a cure, leaving patients and families continue to suffer through with little national support.
The print component of “Fighting Alzheimer’s” is distributed within today’s edition of USA Today in Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, New York and Washington DC/Baltimore markets, with a circulation of approximately 250,000 copies and an estimated readership of 750,000. The digital component is distributed nationally, through a vast social media strategy and across a network of top news sites and partner outlets. To explore the digital version of the campaign, click here.
Celebrated film, television and theatre actor Victor Garber graces the cover of the print publication. Through an exclusive interview with Mediaplanet, he opens up about the far less glamorous role he took on when Alzheimer's hit close to home — Garber lost both of his parents to the disease.
“My father was in London, Ontario. My brother became the primary caregiver, along with my father's wife. My mother lived in Los Angeles, so I was more involved in her progression.”
Garber has empathy for those who take on a caregiver’s role: “I was fortunate because I had money to put [my mother] in a facility that was extremely comfortable, and someone was always with her when I was working. I'm not the typical Alzheimer's caregiver by any stretch of the imagination. That's why I have such empathy for people who have to quit their jobs because they can't leave their husband or wife alone.”
When tending to an Alzheimer’s patient gets to be too much, Garber says asking for help is crucial to survival. “Go to any organization in your area. Reach out to family and friends. You can't do it alone. You have to sometimes put yourself first, which is really hard to do.
“Take care of yourself,” he adds. “Because you have to function. Make sure you have support in place, in any way that you can.”
This campaign was made possible with the support of Caregiver Action Network, Dementia Spotlight Foundation, Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation, Project Lifesaver, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, Victor Garber, Roche, UnitedHealthCare, TauRX, Allergan, Amgen and Novartis.
About Mediaplanet
Mediaplanet specializes in the creation of content marketing campaigns covering a variety of industries. We tell meaningful stories that educate our audience and position our clients as solution providers. Our unique ability to pair the right leaders with the right readers, through the right platforms, has made Mediaplanet a global content marketing powerhouse. Our award-winning stories have won the hearts of countless readers while serving as a valuable platform for brands and their missions. Just call us storytellers with a purpose. Please visit http://www.mediaplanet.com for more on who we are and what we do.
Press Contact:
Sarah Wasser
sarah.wasser(at)mediaplanet.com
(646) 979-2831
