Nascar, Ad Council & Alzheimer’s Association raise awareness of early signs of Alzheimer’s
In a touching new campaign, Nascar’s Ryan Blaney shares his family’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease following his grandfather’s diagnosis.
Ryan Blaney is not only a Nascar driver. He’s also the grandson of a Nascar driver who developed Alzheimer’s disease.
This connection made him the perfect spokesperson for the latest iteration of Ad Council’s Alzheimer’s campaign, designed to educate audiences on how to identify cognitive decline in loved ones and detect the disease early.
To bring a personal angle, Blaney discusses his Grandpa Lou’s diagnosis and how it affected his family in the film.
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The campaign comes after a survey from the Alzheimer’s Association and Ad Council found that more than six million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s disease, and by 2050, that number is expected to reach nearly 13 million.
Meanwhile, less than half of people are likely to talk to their family members about the changes they are noticing and seeing a doctor.
“The message behind the Ad Council’s Alzheimer’s campaign has always been to promote early detection of Alzheimer’s for those at risk,” says Heidi Arthur, chief development officer at the Ad Council.
“Close family members are typically the first to notice memory issues or cognitive problems in their loved ones and this new creative encourages families – through Ryan Blaney’s sharing of his family’s journey with Alzheimer’s – to have a conversation with their loved ones when they notice these changes and stress the benefits of early detection.”
The campaign also encourages audiences to visit Alz.org/TimeToTalk for helpful resources, such as an interactive conversation guide and information on the 10 early signs of Alzheimer’s.
Blaney is a longtime advocate for those who suffer from Alzheimer’s, having founded the Ryan Blaney Foundation to support the treatment and research of the disease. To raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association, Blaney will wear a pair of custom Alzheimer’s branded driving gloves at an upcoming race. They will be auctioned off after the event.
New York-based Clutch Studios spearheaded the creative strategy and production. The effort consists of 60 and 30-second video spots that will be distributed on television, radio and digital sites across the country, including donated media support from Nascar. They will also be posted to Ad Council, Nascar, ALZ Association and Ryan Blaney’s relevant social platforms.
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