Meredith have a seat thank you guys. Hi, everyone. Welcome, welcome, welcome. Thank you. Todays show is very personal for me. This summer my brother steve passed away from alzheimers. And he was just 65 years old. He had early on set alzheimers. I think most of us can say we know someone affected by this disease, including actor seth rogen, who went to washington earlier this year to fight for more funding. Take a look at what he had to say. After forgetting who she an her loved ones were, my motherinlaw, a teacher for 35 years then forgot how to speak, feed herself, dress herself and go to the bathroom herself all by the age of 60. Thats right. The situation is so dire that it caused me, a lazy selfinvolved generally selfmedicated manchild to start an entire charity organization. Meredith and seth is here with his wife lauren today. [ applause ] plus, now he is on the show. We thought it would be fun to see what it takes to scare scary spice. For now say hello to my good friend jon harris. [ applause ] and time for the list. [ applause ] the list is all about whats on my mine and whats on your mind. First on my list, take a photo of three little girls battling childhood cancer. They were brought together by a photographer who had cancer. She wanted to show the bravery of children facing illness. They didnt know each other when they were brought together by that picture. That was taken in april. In july the girls had another photo taken. This one was joyous because all three girls are in remission. [ applause ] and they are here with their moms today making their First National television appearance. Are you guys having fun in new york . Yeah . Talk to me about the photo. What is it about it that you think resonates so much with people . Everyone knows someone with cancer. Meredith you girls did not know each other when you first met. Now youre good buddies. What do you like to do . Dance. Meredith dance . I like to dance. They like to play with their kitty dolls and princess dolls. Meredith we have a little surprise for you. Are you ready . Come on out. Surprise. Look who it is. Whos that . Hello kitty. You can go look. Go ahead, honey. Do you want to hug hello kitty . [ applause ] hello kitty. Go ahead, get your hug. Hello kitty is celebrating her 40th anniversary. She wants you to celebrate with her. Shes brought backpacks for you and toys and all sorts of things. We have one more surprise for you, jon, isnt that right . Thats right, meredith. Our dear friends were so touched after hearing your story, about your strength and courage, that they wanted to help out in a big way. Theyve done that. Theyre going to be giving each of you 10,000 to help you with your bills, to help make your lives and your familys lives a little easier. [ applause ] meredith i want you to look at these three very brave families. It is so hard when you have illness because the medical costs are through the roof. Youre worried about your child. Worried about paying the bills. Hopefully that 10,000 for each family will go a long way. Thats our treat for you today. Thank you very much. Meredith continued good luck and good health to all of you. [ applause ] if you would like to help these beautiful little girls, the proceeds will be going to the families of each girl to con to help with those phoupb mounting medical expenses. Thank you very much. [ applause ] okay. Next up on my list, funny falls. What is it about people falling down that we find so darn funny, right . Americas funiest home videos has been on for 25 years showing peoples mishaps. Take a look. [ laughter ] [ laughter ] meredith whats the matter with you guys . I mean, i like a fall. Remember Dick Van Dyke . The ottoman . Thats all right when you can relate to the person and you know theyre going to be fine. But theres some people like our executive producer who gets off on people hurting themselves because it makes him feel better about himself. Dont you say that im lying. Can i tell the story . Go ahead. Meredith so few months ago i was getting ready to go to the olympics. The night before, literally, im downstairs. Lights were out. I go to use the bathroom downstairs. My husband left the toilet seat up. You go to sit down an it wasnt there. I fell. My effort to save myself i hit the side of the bowl. I got very very badly bruised. Pain. Pain. I told rich this story. Rich, how did you react . When you call me and say hey rich, hows it going . You said, i fell in a toilet. When you told me that, the first thing was, are you okay . Second thing, soon as i got off the phone i said, she fell in the toilet well talk about it on the show. Meredith when you asked me how i was, i said i was in pain. I thought you said i was a pain. Meredith americas host videos will be returning for new episodes in objecting so there will be more people falling. Finally on my list, i could not believe this. 40 of people never take their vacation days. Sometimes they dont want to come back to a mountain of work. Or they say they can afford a vacation or they think theyre invaluable. Theres no way they would fire me. Im so important to this job, that i have to be there. Then theres the group that says, i know im dispensable and if i take days off, my boss is going to figure it out and get rid of me. We did a social ebbi experiment. They had to work on labor day. We said were gonna give you the day off. I know youve been working crazy hours. I was gonna give you the day off if you want, if you could take the day off. Really . Thank you. Are you sure . Labor day . Im not sure. Maybe ill go half and half. What about you . I think im coming in. You can take monday off. Too much to do . Youre doing a great job. You got too much to do. How realistic is it . I was gonna give you monday off. [ laughter ] you take the day off. Yeah. Youre good with the day off. Okay. I feel bad everybody has to work on labor day. Youre on camera there, there and there. Welcome to this social experiment. Are you serious . You are a hard worker. I said theres no way hes taking it off. In my head i was like, yes. Im going to go to my lake house. October 6th you can take off. Is that a real thing . [ applause ] meredith so we learned two things. Our staff very hard working. We are giving them a day tphauf october. According to the u. S. Travel association there are 430 million days of unused paid vacation in a year. We would like to help lower that statistic. Thats why apple vacation and am resorts is giving everyone in this audience an all inclusive three night stay at a luxurious resort in mexico or the caribbean. Youre all going away [ applause ] [ applause ] meredith i love the shock on your faces like whats going on . Youre going on vacation. [ applause ] if you want to win one of these apple vacation enter on our website to find out more. Or if you would like to share anything, go to meredith vieira. Com. Well be right back. Announcer up next, knocked up star seth rogen and his wife open up about their relationship. Relationship. And their familys struggle with lets taget a plan,a notch. Get it right, and look for whats next. Lets do this. More saving. More doing. Thats the power of the home depot. Save 20 on any two bags of scotts fertilizer. Without it falling flat . Moisture some moisturizing products can weigh hair down. Dove oxygen moisture is different. It provides lightweight oxygenfused moisture for the moisture you need and the volume you want. So you can enjoy moisture with 95 more volume. Dove oxygen moisture. Meredith it happens every 67 seconds, someone is diagnosed with alzheimers. It affects people of all ages and the people who love them. Not only is it deep and personal for me, but all for actor seth rogen and his wife lauren who know first hand the devastating effects it can have on an entire family. You probably know him best for his roles in knocked up and the neighbors. But the role that is closest to his heart is an advocate for alzheimers. I dont know if you know who i am. You told me you have never seen knocked up chairman. Meredith in february he talked at a hearing on Alzheimers Research sharing the very personal story of his wifes mother who was diagnosed when she was only 55. After forgetting who she an her loved ones were, my motherinlaw, a teacher for 35 years, then forgot how to speak, feed herself, dress herself and go to the bathroom herself, all by the age of 60. Reporter seth an his wife were so devastated, they founded hi hillarity for charity. Thats right. The situation is so hillarity for charity. Thats right. The situation is so dire that it caused me, a lazy selfinvolved generally selfmedicated manchild to start an entire charity organization. Meredith this actors heart fell and very public plea is bringing more awareness. I needs to be yelled and screamed to the point that it finally gets the attention and funding that it deserves and needs. Meredith please welcome seth rogen and lauren miller. [ applause ] lauren. You and i were talking before you came out here, how i so relate to what your experience is with my brother. He had early on set alzheimers. So little is known about it. When did you first realize there was something wrong with your mom . I feel like the first time i noticed it was at my college graduation. Both of my grandparents had alzheimers, dementia. So i guess i was sort of very aware of it, the symptoms. My mom was repeating herself, telling the same stories. Something just seemed off. It was over the next two years i guess that things progressed worse and worse, and then we got the diagnosis two years later. Meredith there was a moment where you went to get your dad. It was around two years into her diagnosis. It was a real turning point for me. I said were out, why dont we get a card for dad. I said lets fill it out. No. Hell be around. I gave her a pen. She put her pen to the paper and she couldnt write. She spent 35 years teaching kids how to read and write. Meredith when you met lauren, her mom had not been diagnosed but there were early signs. What did you understand about alzheimers at that i int . I understood very little, honestly. I think i had been eand iosed t pretty much what was pop culture had shown me about it, which was a very kind of like romantie apd version of it. You know, did you forget your keys . You tell the same story an everyone laughs. And thats really not at all what it was like. And i didnt realipso at all tht it could affect people so young. I thought generally it was reserved for grand parents and great oplandparents. I had no idea there was nothing that could be done about it. I think that was the most shocking. Meredith also the family. It doesn irepust affect the person who has alzheimers, but all those people who love them. It affects their relationships. What impact did it have on the two of you . Probably tore down a lot of the walls that i would have put up. Such strong, heavy emotions early in our relationshn he stepped up right away. He was able to show how sensitive he was. 7 meredith you have a beautiful photo of you with your mom at your wedding that you share. Talk to me about that. It was a few years agt we i do feel like that was the last day that i really connected with her. Really talked to her. Meredith so she approved of this photo . Repewish mother. Jack pot. [ laughter ] she would always remember, we tsed torepoke that he was her favorite. Youll be alert and awake. Meredith seth, you have started an orgeneniy stion, hilarity for charity an effort to raise money for alzheimers. Tell us about that. We reallyrepust wanted to desperately appeal to kind of people of our generation and i know a lot of comedians and performers. Meredith really . Started putting on comedy variety show basically in los angeles and then we did one in new york. We did one in montreal. And theyre really fun. Its just good shows. The fact that were able to put a message into them is something im very proud of. Meredith also spread to llaametses. Also spread to you have a documentary that youve been working on. Were gonna talk about that when we come back. Ampao youll meet a man who was diagnosed with alzheimers at just 29 years ol year the doctors are hopeful that theres a cure sooner than we think. Well be right back. Announcer coming up i went to get the kids from school. Announcepef what you need to know. Meredith how do you distinguish between somebody who is fosometful and somebody who has the first sig bill have you seen my keys anywhere . Ill help you look. Maybe you left them in the bathroom again. Its just the strangest thing. The warning signs of alzheimers disease, may be right in front of you. Its alright baby. For help and information, call the Alzheimers Association or visit alz. Org 10signs yeah, girl you know, ive been thinking about us and, uh, i just cant fight it anymore its bundle time bundle mm, feel those savings, baby and thats how a home and auto bundle is made. Better he learns it here than on the streets. The miracle of bundling now, thats progressive. Announcepef next meredith, when an accident paralyzed olympian, she faced her toughest challenge yet. Hallenge yet. This champion down. And jessica alba. Tomorrow. Upside down. Meredith happened soon after their wetiving. They were basking in newly wed bliss when ken started having frightful moments of forgetfulne j. I went to get the kids from school. I had been picking them up for months. I was nowhere near where they were to be picked up. It was very ewlary. Meredith at first nikki feared her husband had a brain tumor. When the correct diagnosis did come in, everyone was stunne yer early on set alzheimers. This was one week before his 30th birthday. Im thinking this is a cruel joke. He says, no. I think i immediately broke down. Meredith for nikki trb cruellest part of the disease is that her husband recogpyopsos exactly what is happening to him. Hes living his memories. He know hess can i do things he used to be able to do. I had to give up a lot of my independence and things that i never had. There are days where im a wife. Most days i ev a care giver. Its so hard to see someone that you love so much struggle to do things that we do on a daily hings that we do on a daily meredith the sobering reality of alzheimers has taken its toll on this whole family. Prince was onlyuch when he fir learned about his dads condition. He brought over a picearre o himself and told his dad and set it next to the bed. That when when he forgets him, hell know hes his son. Thats not how life is. Unfortunately thats how odes life is. That picearre still sits next t his bed. It will never leave. Meredith we are back with seth rys,en and his wife lauren. Joining us are ken and nikki. I know its with courage that you are here. I appreciate it. Ken, i dont even know how you begin to s hocest e at the age 29, that you have alzheimers. Yeah. Its hard. The only answer is having the resources to go to when its difficult, especially his age. I hers more difficult. Meredith repust the fact, yo just built a new home. Yes. Meredith three very young llahildren. three very young no savings at all. Youre hit with all of this. Youve dealt with it by maintaining a good sense of humor. Its a coping mechanism. I hers the same in our family. Have you handled this the same way we have really bad humor. We have really bad humor. Light at night time. I always have to be alert and awake because i don i know what can happen at pyoghttime. Its our hardest time. Meredith absolutely. I want to bring in a doctor. I want to bring in a doctor. About this, early on set alzheimers. Happened to my s aothealwa seth motherinlaw and ken. How common is it . Its relatively rare. There are over 200,mem0 pup plen our country who have early on set alzheimers disease. I think were recys,pyozing it more and more in younger people. I see people at all stages of aduof likelihood of getting alzheimers doubled every decade over the age of 50. Meredith how do you distinguish when someone who is forgetful and somebody who has the first sign . Tha hers a dusefin we often worry, we forgot our we oitey, i must be getting r alareis sadly the difference is that in alzheimers, people start to fosomet what the kd is for and how to use a key. But we all realize that some of those Senior Moments that we used to think were so normal, arent normal. Its okay to see early alareis do a better job picking it up. Meredith diagnosing it early. Earliten, its hard for you. You have good days and bad days. You want to be here to get out a message. What is the message that you want to get out . It could happen to anybody. It don i care how old you are or how many kids you got. Its sad that theres no n Verde Meredith clearly understand why this document is in the don they are a remarkable family for sure. I want to know what we can do to help slow down the progression of this disease . How close we possibly are to a lladese . E we possibly are to a tha hers coming dow after the break. [ applause ] announcepef coming dow, a beautiful sdess hise for the cause. Meredith we might have a surprise for yo real announcepef and in her brothers honor. Thats while camo loves to hide, his extra pounds were hard to conceal. So anna switched him to iams indoor weight and hairball care. Now that hes lost the weight, hes a bit of a showoff. Iams indoor weight and hairball care manages weight and reduces hairballs. Of course, he still loves a good hiding spot. Just one of many iams formulas to keep love strong. Meredith we are back with seth rogen his wife lauren and ken and his wife and dr. Sperling. Everyone on this couch today, including myself, has been affected by alzheimers and its estimated that by 2050, 16 Million People will be living with alzheimers if we dont find a medical break through to stop this disease. Dr. Sperling, as silly as this may sound, i play those games, those computer games. Im on there every day because of my brothers situation. Does any of that stuff work . I think it may be helpful in keeping people bright. But actually, i really like to tell people to go out and do something social and interactive and physical as well, because i think that evidence that exercise may be really helpful an important. So i recommend in addition to the computer games, you take up ballroom dancing. [ laughter ] meredith im a bad dancer. Even better. Meredith do you think we are close to a cure . Youve been working so hard at this. I certainly hope so. I have been accused of being a polyanna. As you said, weve all been personally affected. My grandfather was diagnosed with alzheimers when i was in medical school. I swore that by the time my dad reached that age, that we would have a cure. And unfortunately he was diagnosed last year. But im i am even more hopeful than i have been in my career because i think we finally have the chance of finding people who have evidence of the earliest brain changes before they get symptoms. Evidence of plaque buildup that we think is important. Its kind of like treating cholesterol to prevent a heart attack or stroke. Thats what we need to do with alzheimers disease. Some of the studies like the a4 study is starting now. That give mess hope that in the next five years well have some answers. Meredith i hope so, too. Without that money, were never gonna get there. I think we might have a little surprise for you. Jon, i think thats your cue. Meredith weve been dear friends for such a long time. When you asked me to join t