20 Unforgettable Quotes from Famous People with Alzheimer’s Disease

Around 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s Disease. Billion of dollars every year goes to the cost of care. The race to find a cure continues as current treatments only address the symptoms. Recent research findings point to a potential drug that can prevent, delay and treat the disease.

Throughout the years, famous and not so famous people have battled this disease. They may have suffered memory loss and worst but these men and women left a mark in their own sphere of influence and in the world. A look into their thoughts and writings or speeches reveal these 20 unforgettable quotes from these amazing people who endured Alzheimer’s:

1. Ronald Reagan — He is an American actor and served as the country’s 40th President. During his 2 terms as President, he lowered taxes, raised defense spending, and was nicknamed, the Great Communicator.

2. Robin Williams — A versatile and decorated actor, comedian, producer, director, writer, almost everyone loved Robin Williams. Best known for his performances in Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting, Williams captured the hearts of his viewers, young and old.

3. Rosa Parks — She catalyzed the United States’ Civil Rights Movement when she refused to give up her bus seat for white passengers. Parks’ simple act of protest and passion as a civil rights activist, gained her the title of being the mother of the freedom movement.

4. Norman Rockwell — He was a celebrated American painter, illustrator and an author in the 20th century. Rockwell was known for his works illustrating the American culture.

5. Charlton Heston — For more than 60 years, he was one of Hollywood’s loved leading men, and portrayed a number of heroic and historic roles. He was known to be a supporter of civil rights and democratic politicians, and later on became a republican.

6. Aaron Copland — Famed composer, writer and conductor, he was known for his expressive music style and slowly changing harmonies. Many considered his music depicts the sound of the American music.

7. Rita Hayworth — She was a dancer and American actress who became one of the biggest stars in the 1940’s. During World War II, Hayworth was one of the popular pin up girls for the GIs.

8. Willem de Kooning — Born in the Netherlands and later moved to New York, he was considered to be one of the most celebrated abstract expressionist artists of the 20th century. For decades, women was the central theme on most of his paintings.

9. E.B. White — Author of the beloved children’s books, Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web, White has received several awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was also a contributor at The New Yorker magazine.

10. Perry Como — An American television personality and singer, Como’s career lasted for more than six decades. He sold several hit records and successfully aired his television shows in numerous countries.

11. Sugar Ray Robinson — From 1946 until 1951, he held the world welterweight title and was known to be one of the greatest boxers of all time. For his first 40 fights, he stayed unbeaten and became the very first boxer to win a divisional world championship, five times.

12. Maurice Ravel — He was a French, composer, pianist and conductor. Ravel was also considered internationally as the greatest living composer in France.

13. Estelle Getty — During the 1980s, she was regarded as one of the most popular Charlton Heston actresses in television. Getty was best known for her as one of “The Golden girls”, which gave her a Golden Globe award and an Emmy.

14. Charles Bronson — He was a Lithuanian-American television and film actor, known for playing vigilante roles. Bronson served in the military during the world war II.

15. Etta James — A Blues Music and Grammy award winner, James was known to be one of most dynamic singers of all time. She initially started as a gospel singer and later on ventured in different genres of music, helping bridge rock and roll with rhythm and blues.

16. Fred Trump — He was a businessman, philanthropist, real estate developer, and father of Presidential candidate Donald Trump. He built his wealth by managing and building houses, apartments and restaurants.

17. Briggs Cunningham II — He was a sportsman and entrepreneur who raced yachts and his own customized sports car. In 1993, he was inducted in America’s Cup Hall of Fame.

18. Barry Goldwater — He served as a Senator for five terms, and was the Presidential candidate of the Republican’s party in 1964. Goldwater fought for discrimination against homosexuals.

19. Claude Shannon — He was a mathematician, cryptographer, and an electrical engineer. Shannon is dubbed to be the father of information theory.

20. Jack Lord — An American Broadway, film and television actor, he is well known for his role in the “Hawaii Five-O” television series.

No one is spared from Alzheimer’s Disease. Women and men, elderly or young, famous or not, can acquire it. Yes, they suffered greatly because of this disease but we could never forget what they have achieved nor can we deny that they left an indelible mark to most of us. Their thoughts and passions have inspired me to write a book in this journey called life as we continue to wait for and support the search for a treatment to this disease.