• Triumph Over Alzheimer’s Forum And Dinner Features A Rock-Star Researcher, Actress Mariel Hemingway — And Reason For Optimism

    Nov 26, 2019 9:30 AM by Glenn Hunter, My Sweet Charity

    Dr. Rudy Tanzi, a “rock-star” Alzheimer’s researcher, looked very happy during an appearance at Leslie Ann Crozier‘s Triumph Over Alzheimer’s 2019 International Forum and Dinner in Dallas on Tuesday, October 22. That very day, it seems, news reports had circulated about the surprising early-trial success of a new Alzheimer’s disease drug called aducanumab. The reports were said to be surprising because aducanumab targets something called amyloid proteins — it’s believed they help “cause” Alzheimer’s — and earlier tests of amyloid-targeting drugs had failed to succeed.

    ROGER ROSENBERG, KATHERINE WYNNE, MICHAEL HAYDEN, LESLIE ANN CROZIER, MARIEL HEMINGWAY AND RUDY TANZI
    Photo credit: Sharon Ellman

    “The [financial] press has led you to believe that amyloids don’t matter, and that’s not true,” Tanzi said during a discussion with Dr. Michael Hayden at the fundraiser, which was held at the George W. Bush Institute. “I think this will reinvigorate interest in amyloid drugs. It’s good news. It will get the media off attacking amyloids.”

    The comments by Tanzi (a former keyboard player for the Aerosmith rock group) regarding the amyloid controversy underscored the fact that Alzheimer’s research is still in its infancy, with competing theories about its causes and treatments. The field is taking on more urgency, however, because of the increasing prevalence of the disease. Hayden and Tanzi, who were introduced at the event by Dr. Roger Rosenberg, pointed out that more than one in three people will develop Alzheimer’s by age 85, and that the disease already is killing more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

    The sold-out gathering of 250 at the Bush Institute was a testament to interest in the deadly disease — and to Leslie Ann’s Triumph Over Alzheimer’s Foundation, which is focused on and benefits Alzheimer’s research and prevention. Attended by the likes of Lee Bailey, Barbara and Stan Levenson, Gail Corder Fischer, Carol Seay, Jimmy Westcott, Laurie Harrison, Pete Delkus, Billie Leigh Rippey, Connie and Denny Carreker, and BvB Dallas members (Jenny Deely, Kara Kirkby and Holley Caldwell) the event featured a cocktail reception, a dinner, and a discussion with actress and mental health advocate Mariel Hemingway, in addition to the forum with the scientists.

    During the reception, Mariel said she’d met Leslie Ann in New York this past spring at an event presented by The Carlyle Group, the giant private-equity firm. Mariel has long had an interest in mental and emotional health issues, she said — “any kind of brain issue … it’s all related.” (Her grandfather, writer Ernest Hemingway, and her sister, supermodel Margaux Hemingway, both committed suicide.) She speaks on mental/emotional health topics about 12 times a year, she added, and has been to Dallas several times, including to appear in “a couple of plays here back in the ’80s.”

    Mariel was in the audience for the forum, where Hayden and Tanzi said there’s reason for hope and optimism in Alzheimer’s research, despite the increasing incidence of the disease. There may be blood tests soon to detect the “plaques” — they form when protein pieces called beta-amyloids clump together in the brain — that are suspects in causing cell death and tissue loss in Alzheimer’s patients, Tanzi said. That will help detect the disease much earlier, before the brain begins degenerating. “We’ve been treating patients way too late,” he said.

    Added Hayden: “Hopefully, Alzheimer’s will be treated soon like cardiovascular disease.”

    In the meantime, Tanzi noted, there are things you can do to lower your risk for Alzheimer’s. His six-point SHIELD mantra recommends that you get at least eight hours of Sleep; Handle stress; Interact with others to prevent loneliness; Exercise; Learn new things; and focus on a good Diet. Tanzi recommends the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes the importance of fruit, vegetables and whole grains.

    Once everything was added up, the 2019 fundraiser netted a record total of $170,000, Leslie Ann and her Event Co-Chair Katherine Wynne said. The money will be used to provide Hayden and Tanzi with grants of $75,000 apiece, and Rosenberg with a $10,000 grant. This year’s total means the Triumph Over Alzheimer’s Foundation has awarded $430,000 in Alzheimer’s research grants since its founding in 2017.

  • 2019 Forum Speakers

    LESLIE ANN CROZIER
    FOUNDER, TRIUMPH OVER ALZHEIMER’S
    FOUNDING PARTNER, HOT ON! HOMES

    Since her days as Senior Class President at Stanford University and Class President at SMU while earning her MBA, Leslie Ann has always been a leader. She is the Founding Partner of Hot On! Homes, the advertising and digital platform utilized by America’s homebuilders for 25 years.

    Philanthropically, her passion is Brain Health. In 2017 she founded the Triumph Over Alzheimer’s foundation, focused on research and prevention. With tireless energy and endless enthusiasm, Leslie Ann is dedicated to finding answers and solutions for this life-altering and deadly disease that affects so many of our lives.

    Dr. Rudy Tanzi
    Co-Director of the Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital

    Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School

    Co-discovered all three familial early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) genes

    Called the “Rock Star of Science” by GQ magazine. (Tanzi is a former keyboardist with Aerosmith)

    One of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2015

    New York Times bestselling co-author of Super Brain, Super Genes, and The Healing Self

    Dr. Roger Rosenberg
    Founding Director of the NIH funded Alzheimer’s Disease Center of UT Southwestern Medical Center

    Abe Morris and William Zale Distinguished Chair in Neurology at the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute at UT Southwestern

    In final development stages of a DNA vaccine that has the potential to prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s

    Former President of the American Academy of Neurology

    Dr. Michael Hayden
    Killam professor of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia

    Named one of the “50 Canadians Born in the 20th Century Who Have Changed the World”

    Most cited author in the world for Huntington disease; has authored over 850 publications

    In 2017 was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

    PETE DELKUS
    CHIEF METEOROLOGIST, WFAA-TV

    Pete Delkus is a native favorite, and is the Chief Meteorologist at Tenga-owned and ABC-affiliated WFAA-TV in Dallas. He joined the WFAA-TV weather department in 2005 and quickly won the respect of North Texas viewers. Pete’s steadfast and thorough approach has won him eleven Emmy Awards for weather anchoring and special show hosting. He attended Mississippi State University for his masters level meteorology courses, and holds a Bachelor’s of Science from Southern
    Illinois University at Edwardsville. Delkus made his mark in Cincinnati where he worked from 1996 to 2005 as the “severe weather leader” coined from his exclusive coverage of the deadly 1999 Tornado.

  • 2019 Triump Over Alzheimer’s Grant Recipients

    UT Southwester Medical Center
    Dr. Roger Rosenberg

    Harvard University
    Dr. Rudy Tanzi

    The University of British Columbia
    Dr. Michael Hayden

  • 2019 Forum Sponsors

    VICTORY

    Leslie Ann Crozier/Hot On! Homes

    END ZONE

    Billie Leigh Rippey
    The Rosewood Corporation

    GOAL LINE

    Jana Hayes

    RED ZONE

    Cindy & Fred Balda
    Kelley & Keith Burks
    Carolyn Cosgniff
    Gail Corder Fischer
    Gordy & Mary Ceresino Family Foundation
    Mary & Mike Terry
    UT Southwestern Medical Center
    Jimmy Westcott

    CHAMPION

    Bloomfield Homes
    Kathleen & Frank Lauinger
    Sarah & Alan Losinger
    Barbara & Jim Moroney
    Amie & Lanny Raney
    Michelle & Scott Sandlin/Sandlin Homes
    Greg Seal
    Bonnie & Peter Smith
    Katherine Wynne/ Mercury Health Partners

    WINNER

    Lee Bailey
    Cindy Brinker Simmons
    The Catholic Foundation
    Diane Depoi
    Cathy & Michael Haynes
    Julie & Ken Hersh
    Liza & Dr. Will Lee
    Barbara & Stan Levenson
    Ann & Fred Margolin
    Matt Michalak/Bank of America
    Christer Rosen
    Barbara & Dr. Randall Rosenblatt
    Gloria Snead
    Troy Swaner
    Jere Thompson

    1st & 10

    Donna Dyke Bajaj
    Jill Bindler
    Netta Blanchard
    Kyle Clifford
    Marlyn & Jim Conrow
    Jack Crozier
    Diane & Nick DiGiuseppe
    Abbott Christopher Dillon
    Nikki Sorensen Evans
    Paul Feinberg
    Rick Geoffrion
    Teresa George
    Carol Hall
    Dr. Morgan Hare
    John Harrington
    Stacey & Don Kivowitz
    Dennis Konopatzke
    Nathaniel Krasnoff
    Carolyn Lacey
    Jamie Langston
    Regina Leung
    Ruth Lindsley
    Michelle Markey
    Matt & Kris Kramer Family Fund
    Dolores McCall
    Maryann & Frank Mihalopoulos
    Marianne Morris
    Richard Myers
    Darina Padian
    Mary & Dr. Robert Potter
    Dr. Rod Rohrich
    Sandy Schwan
    Sandra and Vince Schwan
    Nancy & Gerald Solomon
    Teddy Solomon
    Von Truong & Tom Goll
    Smilie Watkins
    Ruth Wiseman
    Vivian Young

    A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO:

    Eileen & Alex Charlton and Wolfgang Daum, Carlyle Global Partners
    Mariel Hemingway
    Jana Hayes, for generously underwriting tonight’s candles

  • 2019 Forum Co-Chairs & Committee

    EVENT CHAIRS

    Leslie Ann Crozier & Katherine Wynne

    HONORARY HOSTS

    Eileen and Alex Charlton
    Mariel Hemingway

    SCIENTIFIC AMBASSADORS

    Dr. Ilya Bezprovanny
    Dr. Ken Cooper
    Dr. Mark Goldberg
    Dr. Michael Hayden
    Dr. Roger Rosenberg
    Dr. Rudy Tanzi

    AMBASSADORS

    Leah Allen
    Holley Caldwell
    Jenny Deely
    Chris Francis
    Rusty Haake
    Whitney Hollowell
    Kara Kirkby
    Lindsey Kluempers
    Elizabeth Langdon
    Daniel Lawson
    Jessica Pantano
    Benjamin Poynter

    HOST COMMITTEE
    Lee Bailey
    Cindy & Fred Balda
    Jill Bindler
    Netta Blanchard
    Beverly & Bruce Bowman
    Kelley Burks
    Holley Caldwell
    Marilyn & Jim Conrow
    Carolyn Cosgriff
    Leslie & Jeffrey Crook
    Angie & Steve Crozier
    Wolfgang Daum
    Jenny Deely
    Diane Depoi
    Paula Feinberg
    Gail Corder Fischer
    Linda Flynn
    Tom Goll
    Carol Hall
    John Harrington
    Laurie Sands Harrison
    Jana Hayes
    Wendy & Michael Jenkins
    Kara Kirkby
    Lindsey Kluempers
    Kris & Matt Kramer
    Liza & Dr. Will Lee
    Barbara & Stan Levenson
    Paige Locke
    Sarah & Alan Losinger
    Ann & Fred Margolin
    Michelle Markey
    Kim and Greg Miller
    Amy Mitchell
    Barbara & Jim Moroney
    Marianne Morris
    Regina Morris
    Denise Nolan
    Amie & Lanny Raney
    Billie Leigh Rippey
    Barbara & Paul Schnur
    Sandy Schwan
    Carol Seay
    Ann & Jack Seifrick
    Bonnie & Peter Smith
    Gloria Snead
    Nancy & Gerald Solomon
    Anna & Todd Terry
    Von Truong
    Jimmy Westcott
    Bradley Wilson
    Alison Wood
    Katherine Wynne
    Tina Yampanis
    Vivian Young