The Alzheimer's Party

In today's New Jersey Star-Ledger I argue for a third party - The Alzheimer's Party. Now we are neither Democrats nor Republicans. Now we are The Alzheimer's Party. Just as this disease is equal opportunity: Ds or Rs; rich or poor; male or female, African-American, Latino or white — we all are at risk. You can read my op-ed here . - Trish

Before I Forget by B. Smith and Dan Gasby

This post originally appeared on Huffington Post . ~ Trish It started with lapses of memory. But who doesn't have those, right? It just means you have to concentrate a little more, be more focused and present in your life. At least that's what B. Smith thought at first. Barbara "B." Smith - nationally recognized restauranteur, celebrity chef, model, magazine publisher and lifestyle maven - she had it all. And she deserved it. Smith was the embodiment of the American Dream. Born in rural Pennsylvania, she was one of the first African American supermodels. She wrote three highly regarded cookbooks

All I Want for Christmas ($1,064,000,000)

We end 2015 on an encouraging note in the fight against Alzheimer's. Congress has passed a bill to fund the government for the coming year providing an historic $350 million increase for Alzheimer’s research at the National Institutes of Health. The increase means NIH will have additional money to support critical Alzheimer's-related research and, hopefully, move us closer to ending this devastating disease. (You can read UsAgainstAlzheimer's statement here .) And now Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has come out in support of $2 billion a year in Alzheimer's funding to treat, prevent or cure the disease by 2025 (

In Grace's Honor

This piece originally appeared on Huffington Post . - Trish My mother, Bea Lerner, was a powerhouse. Politics was her passion. Back in 1960, John F. Kennedy credited her with winning New Jersey -- a pivotal state -- for his election. As a result, she earned a spot on Nixon's infamous "Enemies List." She wore this badge proudly. In 1987 my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I was sure she could beat it. After all, she won every battle she ever fought...but she was no match for Alzheimer's. No one is. In 1992, this valiant lioness of a woman finally

I Still Remember Love

This post originally appeared on The Huffington Post . - Trish 1987 My mother had once again refused to see a doctor. This from a woman who, until now, had been a hypochondriac. All I wanted, I told her was, "A simple evaluation." "Evaluate yourself," she snapped, her determined chin jutting out. "Mom, I'm not the one who thinks strange men are in the house." "Just because you don't see them, doesn't mean they're not here. Move in, you'll see them. Guaranteed." "Mom, you forget to take your medicine." "Get me an alarm clock, I'll remember." "I did that. You