I Remember family card tournaments with my grandma, a sharp, strategic competitor who had the best laugh when someone fumbled a play. She was full of life—a valedictorian and wheat farmer who kept her mind and body strong through family, church, community, gardening and country dancing. But when she began withdrawing from the activities she loved, including playing cards with her usual competitive spirit, we knew something was wrong. A doctor called it Alzheimer’s. I was in high school then, and watching her memory fade felt like a cruel irony— when I was young, she had taught me how to remember through her love of cards. Yet as the disease progressed, her memories and vibrant personality slipped away. That experience left a lasting impact on me. I have dedicated my career to research aimed at prevention, treatment and, ultimately, a cure for every family facing this disease.
—Miranda Orr, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Neurology
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis