Sixteen Year Old Teen Brings Awareness To Alzheimer’s Disease

Sixteen Year Old Teen Brings Awareness To Alzheimer's Disease

The 16 year old Alissa Anderegg has been around Alzheimer’s for most of her teenage life nearly 8 years ago now.

Her grandmother was diagnosed with the disease while Alissa experienced the symptoms first hand.

She stated that she remembered her grandmother as always being a bit different and forgetful even before the official diagnosis.

Although Alissa remembers her grandmother to even forget the simplest things in life, she also remembers the ‘real’ grandmother, says Alissa.

One event Alissa clearly remembers is her grandmother telling her entire life story to her grand daughter. Moments later, she couldn’t remember her grand daughters name.

Alissa decided to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s disease upon her own experiences with her grandmother.

She raises awareness by singing and speaking at numerous events for Alzheimer’s disease. Alissa also appeared in an Emmy-Award winning HBO documentary recently.

The documentary is about the disease and is called “The Alzheimer’s Project: Grandpa Do You Know Who I Am?” with Maria Shriver.

Alissa is a registered Alzheimers Association advocate and is determined to speak out to the public to teach others about the disease and how to cope with family members having the disease.

It was a surprise to herself to how devoted she became to advocate this disease. She began her devotion after speaking at the Alzheimer’s Memory walk in San Francisco when she was running for Miss America Teen.

Later, Alissa and her dad attended a Alzheimer’s Memory Walk in Los Angeles. Alissa met numerous people all coping with loved ones suffering from the disease.

Alissa said it really hit her then that her family wasn’t the only one dealing with Alzheimer’s in the family. She decided that she might be able to help others cope with the disease.

Alissa met a woman who helped her get involved with Leeza Gibbons community for caregivers of Alzheimer’s.

She also found out about the HBO documentary about the disease. She did an audition and won a role in the film.

The enthusiastic and motivated teen also set up a Alzheimer’s Awareness Club at her own high school, teaching other teens about the disease and the odds they might find themselves in the same situation.

It’s proven that 1 in 3 people will get Alzheimer’s which makes it very likely that other teens have at least one family member or relative suffering from the disease as well.

Last month, Alissa attended The Woman’s Conference in Long Beach, California. Maria Shriver hosted the conference and introduced Alissa to thousands of others in the same situation as her family and grandmother.

Alissa is glad to be able to make a difference and feels that the many events and her stride to Alzheimer’s Awareness has taught her a lot.