Nancy Reagan, Alzheimer's, and NASA
Nancy Reagan has died. pic.twitter.com/vaJNblJbKc
— NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) March 6, 2016
Keith’s note: Nancy Reagan has died. Thus turns the final page from an era wherein space exploration was elevated as an aspirational goal for America as well as a cause to ponder our own mortality. Only after Columbia did we again dwell on such matters as a nation. When Nancy Reagan revealed her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis she helped part a long-standing curtain of secrecy that covered an insidious disease. She was a tireless crusader for Alzheimer’s research. To my younger readers Nancy Reagan is just a name and Alzheimer’s is something that is not on their radar.
A favor, if you will. The next time you watch someone from NASA, the aerospace industry, or the space community in their 50s and 60s – and you notice that they seem tired, or annoyed, or frustrated as they talk about a large program of exploration that is not doing as well as it should (or talk about one that is doing well) consider that there way be something going on behind the scenes. Having a parent with Alzheimer’s can rob you of the most prized parts of your own life. Trust me.
Just as many of us in my generation reach that point in their careers – careers for which their parents sacrificed so much – and would be most proud, there is often no one left inside the parent to be proud of their child. Many older veterans from NASA’s history no longer appear in public or are quoted in print. There are many reasons why, but in my experience, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are at the top of the list.
I am not asking you to do anything – other than to appreciate that there is a silent scourge that stalks the space family – just as it stalks so many others. The only thing that lessens the loss and sorrow felt by those who support those who are affected is to soar higher and further – in our case, into space.
Keith, I can completely relate to your thoughts here as my family member also had it. Thank you for this great posting. And thanks goes out to Buzz Aldrin for his speech last week at the CPAC.
RIP Nancy Reagan.
I have experienced the scourge of Alzheimer’s firsthand. I helped take care of my grandmother as she succumbed to the disease. It hurt a lot to see it rob her of her memory, ability to do things, and her personality.
It is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Hopefully a cure will soon be found.
Thanks for this great posting. Many of us share and relate to your thoughts. Hoping that Nancy and my Mom are in the same place.
well said Keith
Great post Keith.
RIP, Rainbow 🙁
Hearing of Nancy’s passing reminded me of an era that brought hope to America. I felt sad for our country toay and all the turmoil its in, the dread of the next Administration regardless of who wins. Reagan brought Hope. Alzheimers is a hideous disease that robs so much from the person and their family, both my parents suffered with it till their passing, I hope Nancy is with Ronnie tonight.
My 85 year old Father, Spiro has Alzheimers and is in a special care home. He knows I’m one of his sons, but has to be reminded of all our names. I’m 50 years old and when Dad was my age, he was sharper than a tack. But this disease can also hit much younger people, too. I think Nancy Reagan was a brave and loving woman who many Wives would do well to emulate under difficult circumstances. Rest In Peace, Mrs Reagan and all my best wishes to those who are dealing with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia in their lives. Matt Pavletich.
Thank you, Keith, for reminding us all that the people we criticize publicly all have private lives, just like us.
Great post, Keith. Nancy has now, I believe, rejoined her beloved Ronnie.
Thank you, Mr. Cowing. Right on target.
A very thoughtful post Keith. I empathize completely, as you know.
Thanks. As you know, I am on my second and third parent with Alzheimer’s. I am an expert on something that I wish I knew nothing about.
As a physician I sympathize with the many people with personal experience of Alzheimer’s disease, and it has a unique link to space. The cause and mechanism of this disease have very little to do with normal biology, but a lot to do with colloidal chemistry and fluid physics. We proposed that the effect of gel formation on fluid convection is critical to the damage to brain cells.
http://journals.plos.org/pl…
Because fluid convection is unavoidable in normal gravity, we proposed that this effect could be studied in weightlessness. A study group at Florida Tech recently flew a payload on the International Space Station as a first step in testing this hypothesis. http://science.nasa.gov/sci…
Thank you Keith for a thoughtful post and one that truly hits home with me and many others of this older “60’s” generation.
I lost a dear friend to Alzheimer’s disease. She was a pistol and a delight. Many thanks for a terrific post, Keith.
🙂
We will, Keith.