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Glen Campbell’s brave and public battle with Alzheimer’s disease
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Songwriter Glen Campbell died Tuesday, Aug. 8, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Mayo Clinic neurologist Dr. Ronald Petersen was one of Campbell's physicians.
"We at Mayo Clinic are profoundly saddened by Glen’s passing. It was an honor to be part of his care team. He and his wonderful family contributed to the awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and to the reduction of the stigma surrounding it," says Dr. Petersen, who is director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging.
Dr. Petersen adds, "Their wonderful documentary, Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, was a tribute to Glen and the family. The film highlighted the important role of caregivers in allowing Glen to live with dignity and demonstrated Glen and his family’s generosity of spirit. Glen’s music was a cornerstone of his life — sustaining him, his family and his many fans even through his illness."
As Dr. Petersen mentions, Campbell and his family decided to share their struggle with filmmakers and some of the documentary included heartwarming and candidly frank moments during Campbell's visits to Mayo Clinic.
"The film highlighted the important role of caregivers in allowing Glen to live with dignity and demonstrated Glen and his family’s generosity of spirit."
- Dr. Ronald Petersen
The News Network report (below) originally aired in January 2015. Dr. Petersen says the Campbell family's determination to raise awareness about the condition's impact on patients and their caregivers, with videos like this, has made a tremendous difference in people's lives.
Watch: Documentary shares Glen Campbell's Alzheimer's Journey
Journalists: Broadcast quality video pkg (4:20) is in the downloads. Read the script.
*Special note: Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond won the Best Country Song Grammy Award for Campbell's final song, "I'm Not Gonna Miss You," from Academy Award nominated documentary, Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, in 2015.
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