Too Soon to Forget: The Journey of Younger Onset Alzheimer's Disease

Too Soon to Forget: The Journey of Younger Onset Alzheimer's Disease is a stirring and insightful film directed by David J. Hoffman and Ronit Fallek, featuring the fascinating B. Smith and her husband Dan Gasby, who delve into the intense world of younger onset Alzheimer's disease. Released in 2017, the documentary aims to bring a spotlight to this relatively unfamiliar territory, one that strips individuals of their own identities and memories much too early in their lives.

The movie exposes the reality of Alzheimer's when it strikes at an age when one least expects it, an age when we still view ourselves as vibrant, active and strong, not anticipating the debilitating effects of a disease typically associated with old age. The documentary showcases nine families immensely grappling with the challenges posed by this unexpected diagnosis, chronicling their physical, emotional, and mental experiences.

Barbara 'B.' Smith, a renowned American restaurateur, television host, author and model, and her husband, Dan Gasby, serve as the prominent figures in this heart-rending narrative. Their personal journey sheds light on the gaping emotional, financial, and logistical abyss that opens with the diagnosis, and the resilience required to navigate through it. The couple shares their struggle with honesty and sincerity, spearheading the film's visceral exploration of love, loss, and endurance.

One of the chief goals of Too Soon to Forget is to augment public awareness about Alzheimer's occurring in individuals under 65. This includes emphasis on the unique challenges faced by younger individuals affected by the disease, their families and their caregivers. The movie skillfully intertwines the personal experiences of the spotlighted families with well-researched information about the prevalence, causes, and solutions to younger-onset Alzheimer's. This illuminating perspective urges us to recognize the urgency of addressing this issue and confronting the existing system of support and healthcare structure.

The film is a poignant demonstration of the fact that Alzheimer's is not just a disease of the elderly. Audiences are drawn into the raw world of grief, fear, confusion, but also love, resilience, and unexpected strength. The film does an excellent job of bringing the conversation into society's living room to ensure it's understood as a problem that is relevant to us all: as peers, family members, caregivers, and ultimately, as a collective society.

Hoffman and Fallek's direction is measured and sensitive, maintaining a delicate balance between the personal narratives of the affected individuals and the wider public dialogue on Alzheimer's. The narrative is exploratory without being voyeuristic and educational without being strictly clinical or coldly scientific. The filmmakers skillfully capture the light, shade and nuance of the difficult journeys of those affected by this early onset, progressive condition.

The film sharply highlights the emotional turmoil that Alzheimer's can cause, from the initial diagnosis right through the varying stages of dementia. However, it also makes a conscious effort to underscore the dementia person's capabilities, experiences, and the remarkable and often untapped resilience of the human spirit.

Despite the bleaker aspects, the film manages to instill a certain comfort amidst the emotional turbulence. B. Smith's openness about her struggle presents an empowering image of resilience. The extraordinary strength and passion imbued by the cast also seamlessly blend in to deliver a remarkable narrative that illustrates human vulnerability and resilience in equal measures.

Too Soon to Forget: The Journey of Younger Onset Alzheimer's Disease is not just an exploration of an 'old people's' disease showing up in comparatively younger bodies. It is a clarion call to acknowledge, understand, and support those who have been handed this life-altering diagnosis. It is an exploration of the heartrending complexity of the human condition, the fragility of the mind and the sheer indomitable will of the spirit when faced with adversity.

To say the least, this is a film that affects you, makes you pause and reflect. It calls on the viewer to be a part of the conversation, moving people to action and instilling a sense of urgency about the importance of support and continued research into Alzheimer's.

This movie is not about the demise of the human spirit but its resilience in face of adversity. Even as it delves into the deep, dark abyss of forgetting, it also shines a light on love, the strength of relationships, and the bonds that connect us. It is a journey of sorrow and joy, devastation and hope, loss and survival. In a sequence of unforgettable moments, this film will make you laugh, cry, and above all, remember.