Four people living with cognitive decline share their stories.
Below, Being Patient features — in a series of short-form documentary videos — people diagnosed with cognitive decline share their stories of all that came next, in our “Journey to Diagnosis” series. People on journeys like these are also sending in their own videos. Browse story submissions from Being Patient readers on LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram. Ready to share your own? Email us.
Hanging on to moments through photography: Mark Sennet’s story
Mark Sennet, a seasoned Time-Life photojournalist with a remarkable career that spans 30 years. Known for capturing candid moments of some of the world’s most iconic figures, Sennet reflects on the powerful stories behind his photographs, including unforgettable encounters with legends like Muhammad Ali and Robin Williams. Sennet’s journey took an unexpected turn when he began experiencing memory loss and other challenges. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s with mixed vascular dementia, he shares his personal struggle with the condition and its impact on his life and family. Despite these challenges, Sennet remains dedicated to his craft. He is currently working on a coffee table book that features individuals living with dementia, celebrating their stories alongside those of celebrities.
Accepting Alzheimer’s “without losing yourself”: Rebecca Chopp’s story
Join us in this uplifting video as we explore the remarkable story of Rebecca Chopp, a trailblazing educator, author, and Alzheimer’s activist. From her tenure as a Yale professor and the first female chancellor at the University of Denver to her resilience after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Chopp’s experience offers hope and inspiration. In this heartfelt discussion, Chopp candidly shares her initial fears and the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s. But rather than succumbing to despair, she transformed her journey into a mission to educate and empower others. Discover how she turned her challenges into advocacy, leading to her impactful book, Still Me: Accepting Alzheimer’s Without Losing Yourself, aimed at helping others navigate their journeys.
The therapy of music: Betsy Groves’s story
Betsy Groves, a former clinical social worker and Harvard educator, now lives with Alzheimer’s disease. In her Journey to Diagnosis story, Groves shares how music has been her therapy and psychological support, helping her navigate through her diagnosis. Learn about her contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association and the joy she finds in singing with choirs, spending time with her grandchildren, and advocating for Alzheimer’s awareness.
Quilting a future: Reda Harrison’s story
Alzheimer’s advocate Reda Harrison was diagnosed with MCI in 2018. She’s now in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. After a group study on MCI at the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, she began researching the condition’s connection to Alzheimer’s disease, which led her to the Alzheimer’s Association where she became involved in volunteer work and with support groups as she navigated her diagnosis. Since retiring in 2021 her university job as a surgery coordinator, Harrison has been involved as an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association. Beyond her advocacy work, she has rediscovered quilting and works on projects with her stepdaughter and members of the community. She also gardens as much as she can and takes piano lessons.
