Conversations with Ed: Waiting for Forgetfulness: Why Are We So Afraid of Alzheimer's Disease?

How can we not be afraid of Alzheimer's disease? How can we not dread aging? By posing these questions we are inviting alternate ways of seeing Alzheimer's disease as well as aging. In so doing we do not want to minimize the suffering that people may experience watching a loved one become forgetful. Nor do we want to minimize that becoming forgetful and growing old can be painful processes. Rather, Conversations with Ed wants to create a positive cultural space for people who have dementia, for those who accompany them on their journey and for those who fear being afflicted with it.