Visit the program web site at: www.pbs.org/theforgetting
The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's
In January 2004, USA Today asked "Ever wonder why we still need PBS in a world of 500 channels?" In part, it's because no other network would do The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer's, an invaluable, incredibly moving documentary that examines the disease that "robs people of themselves." Viewers agreed, making The Forgetting a pioneering example of how health programming can raise awareness, launch educational initiatives, and offer local connections and resources for viewers and their families.
Now, due to PBS' and funder MetLife Foundation's deep commitment to the project, an encore broadcast of The Forgetting is scheduled for Sunday, August 3, 2008 at 9:00 pm ET. This rebroadcast is timed to air immediately following the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD), held in Chicago on July 26-31.
The Forgetting is a high-impact special aimed at helping Americans better understand and cope with the fearsome disease of Alzheimer's. The cornerstone of the project is a 90-minute documentary based on David Shenk's extraordinary best-selling book on Alzheimer's, The Forgetting — Alzheimer's: Portrait of an Epidemic. Like Shenk's book, the documentary is a dramatic, compassionate, all-encompassing look at Alzheimer's that weaves together the history and biology of the disease, highlighting the intense real-world experiences of Alzheimer's patients and caregivers, and the race to find a cure.
The Forgetting re-broadcast will also include a new follow-up show, The Future of Alzheimer's with David Hyde Pierce. This 30-minute production is moderated by actor and dedicated Alzheimer's advocate David Hyde Pierce. Pierce and a panel of Alzheimer's experts will explain and contextualize the ICAD conference findings, emphasize the importance in addressing and treating Alzheimer's within ethnic and racial minorities, and discuss the future of Alzheimer's research and treatment. Overall, this new production will create a tangible sense of urgency around the need for expanded research and public awareness.
Much more than a television program, The Forgetting is a multi-faceted project aimed at helping people in direct ways. Nationwide educational initiatives held around the initial broadcast offered help and hope to families everywhere. To this end, we have created "turn-key" educational tools, including an updated "Forgetting Toolkit," Viewer's Guide in both English and Spanish, promotional resources and a revised media kit, all of which are available on this new outreach website. We have also refreshed our innovative destination website at www.pbs.org/theforgetting, which includes up-to-the-minute information about Alzheimer's, streaming video of the entire documentary, and more.
There has never been a more critical time for this Forgetting revival. Alzheimer's is on the verge of becoming an epidemic. The disease is age-related, and our older population is rapidly increasing. This demographic shift could result in an American public health crisis, and could powerfully define our future. One of the film's key purposes is to provide a distinct "wake-up call" to our country about Alzheimer's potential impact, and act as a catalyst for individuals, health professionals, and government leaders to better prepare for the challenges of this critical period ahead. But most importantly, The Forgetting rebroadcast promises to provide millions of Americans with insight and context, help and hope.
