New Janssen Healthy Minds Videos Explore Latest Alzheimer's Research and Perspectives of Caregiver with Risk for Dementia

TITUSVILLE, N.J., Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month in November, Janssen Research & Development, LLC ("Janssen") today launched a new digital news series about this devastating brain disease as part of its Janssen Healthy Minds program. Emmy Award-winning journalist Vicki Mabrey hosts the programs. As the population continues to age, it is important to shed light on this disease that affects the memory, thinking and behavior of millions of people.

The videos focus on the future of Alzheimer's research with perspectives from Gary J. Romano, Ph.D., M.D., Neurologist and Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Research Leader at Janssen, and Lori Herbison, a patient advocate and caregiver. Lori discusses the challenging dynamics of being both the primary caregiver to her mother with Alzheimer's and someone who may have increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. She also provides insights into her fears and hopes for the future. Dr. Romano shares the latest in Alzheimer's research and what the future may hold.   

"I've seen far too many loved ones in my family suffer from Alzheimer's disease and know that my siblings and I may be at an increased risk for the disease based on our family history," said Lori Herbison. "I'm passionate about sharing my story because of the gravity and impact of this disease. I remain very hopeful that there will be a research breakthrough in my lifetime."

"Hearing personal stories, like Lori Herbison's, is a stark reminder that there's still a large unmet need," said Dr. Romano. "We remain committed to working tirelessly to better understand Alzheimer's disease and identify new ways to prevent its progression to dementia."

"We strive to develop disease modifying solutions for patients, using cutting-edge science," said Husseini K. Manji, M.D., Global Head of Neuroscience at Janssen. "We are also committed to creating educational resources, like the Janssen Healthy Minds series, that focus on this devastating disease."

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. There are over 9.9 million new cases of dementia each year worldwide, implying one new case every 3.2 seconds.^[1] In the United States alone, there are more than 5 million people living with Alzheimer's disease, and this number is expected to be as high as 16 million by 2050.^[2] The disease is not a normal part of aging; however, the majority of people with Alzheimer's disease are typically 65 and older. Symptoms typically develop slowly, worsen over time, and can become severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.

These new videos can be viewed on the J&J and Janssen YouTube channels, which also feature recently launched videos about treatment-resistant depression. The Janssen Healthy Minds initiative is designed to educate the public about advances in neuroscience research and provide news and information about mental health and brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease.  

About Janssen Research & Development, LLC
At Janssen, we are dedicated to addressing and solving some of the most important unmet medical needs of our time in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, infectious diseases and vaccines, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Driven by our commitment to patients, we develop innovative products, services and healthcare solutions to help people throughout the world. Janssen Research & Development is part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Please visit www.janssenrnd.com for more information.

About the Janssen Healthy Minds Program
Janssen's interests in integrated care for brain diseases have a direct connection to the Janssen Healthy Minds program, launched in 2011 to encourage collaboration among biotechnology, pharmaceutical and public-sector organizations to accelerate the discovery of new therapeutic solutions for neurologic and brain diseases and to provide public health education about them. Healthy Minds builds on Janssen's longstanding legacy of achievement in advancing neuroscience research. The company's work in this area dates back to the 1950s, when Dr. Paul Janssen's discovery and development work led to one of the first breakthrough treatments for schizophrenia. Janssen takes its name from "Dr. Paul," who is known as one of the 20th century's most gifted and passionate physicians and pharmaceutical researchers.

Over the last half century, Janssen has discovered, developed and launched many innovative treatments for brain and CNS conditions and remains firmly committed to neuroscience. Janssen supports public and professional education about mental illness and brain disorders, and funds sponsorships and philanthropy in the field of neuroscience and mental health.

Media Contact:
Greg Panico 
Janssen Research & Development, LLC
908-240-2011
[email protected]

[1] Alzheimer's Disease International (2017). Dementia Statistics. Accessed November 6, 2017
https://www.alz.co.uk/research/statistics

[2] Alzheimer's Association (2017). What is Alzheimer's? Accessed November 3, 2017
https://m.alz.org/what-is-alzheimers.asp.

SOURCE Janssen Research & Development, LLC