Congratulations to Randy L. Buckner, PhD, and Marcus E. Raichle, MD, for receiving the MetLife Foundation’s Awards for Medical Research in Alzheimer’s Disease at this year’s 25th anniversary awards ceremony. Their pioneering research in brain imaging is leading to a better understanding of this devastating disease, and the $250,000 grants from the MetLife Foundation will help that work continue.

At the presentation I attended in New York, Tony-award winning Broadway star David Hyde Pierce (also known to many for his Emmy-winning work on the sitcom Frasier) poignantly shared his family’s struggle with the disease, which is the reason he has been a board member of the Alzheimer’s Association and a passionate advocate for raising awareness about the illness. His message to the MetLife Foundation was “Thank you for listening.”

Starting 25 years ago, when discussing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia was often taboo, MetLife recognized the importance of speaking out about it. They have carried this forward not only with more than two decades of funding scientists in the field (including two Nobel prize winners), but also with awareness-building campaigns. They have developed a series of “pocket videos” explaining the disease and its impact, narrated by Mr. Pierce, that can easily be played on a phone or iPod in the office of a doctor or congressperson. Raising awareness is critically important, as a recent survey, also supported by the MetLife Foundation, revealed. While Americans fear only cancer more than Alzheimer’s disease, a majority of those polled (62%) admit they know little or nothing about the illness. Fewer than one in five have developed any plans to deal with possible dementia.

The MetLife Foundation has partnered with the John A. Hartford Foundation on projects such as the Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) program and the Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education geriatric social work education model. The foundation has been a consistent leader not only in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, but also in supporting aging issues more broadly, with a focus on helping people remain physically and mentally fit and engaged in the community. We are proud to count the MetLife Foundation as a partner, and we too thank them for listening to the needs of older adults.