HomeThis Is Us And Alzheimer's: A Whole New Way To Reduce Stigma...

This Is Us And Alzheimer’s: A Whole New Way To Reduce Stigma Around Dementia

Published on

New research led by the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health found that the primetime TV dramaThis Is Us” drew in millions of viewers with a compelling story about Alzheimer’s disease and family caregiving. Viewers thought the show helped reduce the stigma around dementia and get families talking about plans for aging.

The Pitt study, which was just published in the Journal of Health Communication, is the first to look at a television entertainment story about Alzheimer’s disease and assess its impact on viewers using data from surveys and focus groups. The findings point to the value of collaborations between public health organizations and the entertainment sector to address health challenges, as well as the potential positive effects of entertainment narratives on people with Alzheimer’s.

“It’s critical for clinicians and public health professionals to understand how television narratives impact health decisions,” says lead author Beth Hoffman.

“Given that the average U.S. adult spends about 2,000 hours watching primetime television per year, but only an hour with a health care professional.”

Our findings show that the entertainment sector need not avoid difficult subjects, she said. The results of the study revealed that the plot of “This Is Us” made the approximately 9 million American adults who have firsthand experience with Alzheimer’s illness and caregiving feel seen.

The fictional Pearson family was portrayed in “This Is Us,” with Rebecca as the mother and Kate, Kevin, and Randall as her triplets. Rebecca’s memory began to deteriorate in the fourth season, and she was given the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, most likely brought on by Alzheimer’s disease. Kevin and Randall argued because Randall insisted Rebecca travel across the country to take part in a clinical trial for Alzheimer’s patients.

The plot was created in cooperation with Hollywood, Health & Society, a University of Southern California initiative that has provided fact-based information for TV stories on health, safety, and security for more than 20 years as a free resource to the entertainment industry. Over the course of three seasons, Hollywood, Health & Society periodically worked with “This Is Us” writers to assist them in ensuring the subject was depicted truthfully and realistically. This includes discussions between Mandy Moore, who played Rebecca, and Alzheimer’s disease specialists, as well as screenplay checks and writers’ room briefings.

“We were honored to work with ‘This Is Us’ to inform this storyline and many others throughout the show’s six-year run,” adds Kate Langrall Folb, M.Ed., director of Hollywood, Health & Society. “We know from decades of research that viewers learn from what they see on TV. That’s why it’s so essential for shows to accurately portray the complexities of living with and caring for those affected by diseases like Alzheimer’s .”

After the conclusion of the fourth season, Hoffman’s team conducted follow-up focus groups with a dozen respondents of an online survey that was given to more than 700 viewers after the conclusion of the episode that capped off the season. Using this “mixed methods” technique, researchers like senior author and Pitt Public Health professor Jessica Burke, Ph.D., may find a deeper understanding of the quantitative data collected from large-scale surveys through in-depth interviews and focus groups.

The results of the survey indicate that viewers strongly identified with both Randall and Kevin, which suggests that they could see both sides of the different viewpoints on the treatment and care of someone who has Alzheimer’s disease. Respondents also expressed a strong commitment to medical research and a desire to accept the affected family member’s decision regarding participation in a clinical study. More than 43% of those surveyed had a friend or relative who had already received an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis.

These conclusions were clarified further during the focus group talks. For example, viewers could understand why Randall thought that a clinical trial would save Rebecca’s life, but they could also think that he was being too optimistic, which led them to agree with Kevin’s decision not to force their mother to take part in the trial. Participants also said they thought the fight between Kevin and Randall over how to care for Rebecca would encourage families to talk about planning for end-of-life care.

“This Is Us” creator, showrunner, and writer Dan Fogelman adds, “Obviously it is rewarding to hear that our show has had a positive influence on perception and understanding of Alzheimer’s disease.

“Our incredible writers took great care to get the details right here, as multiple members of our staff had been directly touched by the disease. I’d be remiss if I didn’t add that we couldn’t have attacked the storyline without help from Hollywood, Health & Society, a guiding force with any medical-based research we needed.”

Image Credit: Getty

You were reading: This Is Us And Alzheimer’s: A Whole New Way To Reduce Stigma Around Dementia

Latest articles

Here’s How and When Mount Everest-sized ‘Devil Comet’ Can Be Seen With Naked Eye

Mount Everest sized Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as "devil comet" which is making its...

Something Fascinating Happened When a Giant Quantum Vortex was Created in Superfluid Helium

Scientists created a giant swirling vortex within superfluid helium that is chilled to the...

The Science of Middle-aged Brain and the Best Thing You Can Do to Keep it Healthy, Revealed

Middle age: It is an important period in brain aging, characterized by unique biological...

Science Shock: Salmon’s Food Choices Better at Reducing Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke

Salmon: Rich in Health Benefits, Yet May Offer Less Nutritional Value - This is...

More like this

Here’s How and When Mount Everest-sized ‘Devil Comet’ Can Be Seen With Naked Eye

Mount Everest sized Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as "devil comet" which is making its...

Something Fascinating Happened When a Giant Quantum Vortex was Created in Superfluid Helium

Scientists created a giant swirling vortex within superfluid helium that is chilled to the...

The Science of Middle-aged Brain and the Best Thing You Can Do to Keep it Healthy, Revealed

Middle age: It is an important period in brain aging, characterized by unique biological...