When my brother Leonard and I founded the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) nearly three decades ago, in honor of our mother Estée Lauder, there was no hope for people living with Alzheimer’s disease. Zero. Back then, there were no effective treatments, or even any reliable ways to detect the disease early on. It’s hard to believe how much has changed since then.
Leonard and I believed passionately that Alzheimer’s could be stopped – and that philanthropy, when paired with rigorous science, would make that possible. He took enormous pride in what the ADDF has accomplished over the years, and in the very positive hope that our work is bringing to families around the world. I am so grateful that he lived to see how far the field has come, and how hope is now a reality.
Today, the progress is undeniable. FDA-approved blood tests can identify Alzheimer’s risk early and accurately. Disease-modifying therapies are available to patients. And the field is moving toward earlier, more precise interventions to not only slow the disease, but ultimately prevent it altogether.
From the beginning, the ADDF was built to take risks others could not. We focused on early detection, on understanding the full biology of the disease, and on supporting bold ideas before success was certain. In other words, taking chances. That approach – pairing rigorous science with innovative philanthropy – has had a huge and positive impact on the field, and it continues to guide our work today.
Many years ago, my mother gave me a sign that I keep on my desk: It can be done. That belief has guided my life… and the ADDF from the very beginning. Thanks to all of you, it is no longer just a belief – it is becoming a reality.
With gratitude to the ADDF staff, to our wonderful donors and to my brother, who is missed every day,
