Why at Age 81 and Recovered from Alzheimer’s I have Decided to Walk 3,000 Miles Across the USA

by Judy Benjamin (Patient Zero)

I was the very first patient of the research neurologist who helped Alzheimer’s survivors put the misery of the disease behind them, Dr. Dale Bredesen. He calls me “Patient Zero.” And now, I’ve begun a new journey.

I am walking across the United States, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, from San Diego, California to St. Augustine, Florida — over 180 days and 3,000 miles dedicated to bringing my personal life story to millions of Alzheimer’s sufferers and their supporters.

Thirteen years ago, I was there, too, where they are today.

I lost my way whenever I drove. I couldn’t remember my own phone number. I stumbled whenever I tried to recall my grandchildren’s names. I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. All at a time when I had recently lost my mother, who died of Alzheimer’s after suffering for twenty years with the disease. I was devastated. I lost all hope.

Now, all that has changed. I have regained my mental faculties.

At age 81, I’m dedicating the rest of my life to helping others do the same: To bring hope and awareness to the millions suffering from the disease in the U.S. today, I am walking across the USA, and I’m delighted that, for the first six miles, I was accompanied by Dr. Bredesen himself, along with friends, well-wishers and other Alzheimer’s survivors.

Yes, I was Patient Zero, and I will be forever grateful. But that’s just the beginning of the story.  I want to soon introduce you to Patient One, Patient Two, Patient Three and many more, including those that have already demonstrated significant improvements in their cognitive abilities by participating in Dr. Bredesen’s ongoing clinical trials, approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Sadly, you can almost count on your fingers the people who know about this, and that’s what I hope to change in a big way by the time my walk ends months from now.

Because the national Alzheimer’s crisis is here. Patients are suffering now. And I am walking across America, also now.