Madison Community Leader Battles Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease
Woman Is Subject Of Documentary
Updated: 7:06 pm CDT March 18,2008
MADISON, Wis. -- A local woman with a rich history in Madison is battling early onset Alzheimer's disease.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportMary Kay Baum served the community for more than three decades.She spent 13 years as a District Court Administrator, two terms each on the Dane County Board and Madison Metropolitan School District's Board of Education. She was also the first woman to run for mayor in Madison in the late 1980s. She brought her knowledge of the law, justice system, education and government together to lead the Madison Area Urban Ministry as its executive director, WISC-TV reported.Now, Baum is the focus of a local documentary called "The Hope of Alzheimer's, An Advocate's Journey."Baum said before she began a series of treatments and medicines she suffered from tremors and falling."I know I have Alzheimer's, I just accept that I have that," said Baum.The documentary is already more than a year old. Baum said she hopes that her story will help others."Replacing aloneness with hope is an important part of our mission," she said.More than 4 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's. The most common form, late on-set, occurs in people ages 60 and older.Early on-set Alzheimer's disease, occurs between age 30 and 60. In both instances, symptoms can show long before diagnosis, WISC-TV reported.For More Info:
VIDEO: Watch The ReportMary Kay Baum served the community for more than three decades.She spent 13 years as a District Court Administrator, two terms each on the Dane County Board and Madison Metropolitan School District's Board of Education. She was also the first woman to run for mayor in Madison in the late 1980s. She brought her knowledge of the law, justice system, education and government together to lead the Madison Area Urban Ministry as its executive director, WISC-TV reported.Now, Baum is the focus of a local documentary called "The Hope of Alzheimer's, An Advocate's Journey."Baum said before she began a series of treatments and medicines she suffered from tremors and falling."I know I have Alzheimer's, I just accept that I have that," said Baum.The documentary is already more than a year old. Baum said she hopes that her story will help others."Replacing aloneness with hope is an important part of our mission," she said.More than 4 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's. The most common form, late on-set, occurs in people ages 60 and older.Early on-set Alzheimer's disease, occurs between age 30 and 60. In both instances, symptoms can show long before diagnosis, WISC-TV reported.For More Info: Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
