Actor Seth Rogen has led a charge against senators who walked out or simply neglected to show up at his testimony to improve Alzheimer's research and support. Just two of eighteen senators were present at the Senate hearing where the actor spoke, indicative, tweeted Rogen, of "...how the government views Alzheimer's. Seems to be a low priority."
Following his ill-attended testimony, Rogen appeared on MSNBC's Hardball, expressing his disappointment at the sixteen senators who weren't present at the time of his address. "It's indicative of a mentality that we find so frustrating. It seems like these people don't care," Rogen said to host Chris Matthews. Indeed, Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois tweeted his thanks to Rogen for delivering the testimony, only for Rogen to point out that Kirk's was one of many empty seats.
Rogen, a celebrity ambassador for the Alzheimer's Association, has been involved with Alzheimer's awareness projects for several years. In 2012, he co-founded Hilarity for Charity, a series of comedy fundraising events to improve Alzheimer's care, reduce pressure placed on the families of Alzheimer's sufferers, and better support groups throughout America. Hilarity for Charity also raises money for research into the field in a hope to better understand the causes and possible treatment options for the neurodegenerative disease.
Rogen's battle for greater awareness around the disorder is a personal one, with his mother-in-law Adele Miller diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's at the young age of 54. His wife, Lauren Miller, is the co-founder of Hilarity for Charity, and accompanied Rogen to the testimony.
Peppered with wry jokes, Rogen's speech touched on the high expenses incurred by families dealing with Alzheimer's and called for a higher quality of education on the condition. "I've personally seen the massive amount of financial strain this disease causes and if the American people ever decide to reject genitalia-driven comedy, I will no longer be able to afford it," he said. He also discussed his work with Hilarity for Charity. "That's right, the situation is so dire that it caused me -- a lazy, self-involved, generally self-medicated man child -- to start an entire charity organization. It was through this that we felt we weren't just complaining there was nothing to be done but actively taking steps to do something. Instead of being disappointed that young people were so misinformed about the reality of the disease, we started to educate them."
"Americans whisper the word Alzheimer's because their government whispers the word Alzheimer's."
