THE EXPENDABLES is a hard-hitting action/thriller about a group of mercenaries hired to infiltrate a South American country and overthrow its ruthless dictator. Once the mission begins, the men realize things aren’t quite as they appear, finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of deceit and betrayal. With their mission thwarted and an innocent life in danger, the men struggle with an even tougher challenge – one that threatens to destroy this band of brothers.

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) is a man with nothing to lose. Fearless and void of emotion, he is the leader, the sage and the strategist of this tight-knit band of men who live on the fringe. His only attachment is to his pickup truck, his seaplane and his team of loyal modern-day warriors. His is a true cynic who describes what he does as “removing those hard to get at stains.” The team behind him is made up of Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), former SAS and a savant with anything that has a blade; Yin Yang (Jet Li), a master at close-quarter combat; Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), who has known Barney for ten years and is a long-barrel weapons specialist; Toll Road (Randy Couture), a skilled demolitions expert and considered the intellect of the group; and Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), a combat veteran and an expert in precision sniping who struggles with his own demons.

When the mysterious Church offers Barney a job no one else would take, Barney and his team embark on what appears to be a routine mission: overthrow General Gaza (David Zayas), the murderous dictator of the small island country of Vilena and end the years of death and destruction inflicted on its people. On a reconnaissance mission to Vilena, Barney and Christmas meet their contact Sandra (Giselle Itie), a local freedom-fighter with a dark secret.

They also come to learn who their true enemy is: rogue ex-CIA operative James Monroe (Eric Roberts) and his henchman Paine (Steve Austin). When things go terribly wrong, Barney and Christmas are forced to leave Sandra behind, essentially giving her a death sentence. Haunted by this failure, Barney convinces the team to return to Vilena to rescue the hostage and finish the job he started. And to perhaps save a soul: his own.

Technorati Tags: The Expendables, Movie, Sylvester Stallone, Eric Roberts, Steve Austin, Jason Statham, Terry Crews, Info, Synopsis

CENTURY CITY, Calif. – Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie return for more outrageous adventures when “The Simpsons” The Complete Twelfth Season arrives on DVD August 18th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. The longest running animated series in television history, the latest DVD collection features all 21 classic episodes from the 2000-01 season including Bart’s boy band odyssey in “New Kids on the Blecch” featuring pop sensations N’Sync and a hilarious less-than-ordinary day for Homer, Bart and Lisa in “Trilogy of Error.” The season also boasts an impressive line-up of talented guest stars including Drew Barrymore, Edward Norton, Justin Timberlake, Stephen King, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Roger Daltry and many more.

“The Simpsons” The Complete Twelfth Season is loaded with special features including an introduction from Matt Groening; audio commentaries on every episode with Groening and “The Simpsons” Executive Producers, Writers, Actors and Directors; deleted scenes; animation showcases; original sketches; special language feature; featurettes and more. As an added bonus, the set comes in collectible packaging modeled after the overweight and over opinionated retailer Comic Book Guy. The DVD collection will be available for a suggested retail price of $49.98 U.S./$69.98 Canada. Prebook is July 22.

*Emmy – Outstanding Animated Program (“The Simpsons”): 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2008

“The Simpsons” The Complete Twelfth Season Special Features:
All episodes are compiled on four discs (full frame, aspect ratio 1.33:1). Each episode is presented with English 5.1 Dolby Surround, Spanish and French Stereo and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The following is a breakdown of each disc:

Disc One:
o Treehouse of Horror XI
o A Tale of Two Springfields
o Insane Clown Poppy
o Lisa the Tree Hugger
o Homer vs. Dignity
o Additional Bonus Features Include:
-Commentaries featuring Executives Producers, Writers, Directors, Cast and many more
-Illustrated Commentary: Lisa the Tree Hugger
-Animation Showcase: Treehouse of Horror XI
-Deleted Scenes
-Special Language Feature: Homer Vs. Dignity

Disc Two:
o The Computer Wore Menace Shoes
o The Great Money Caper
o Skinner’s Sense of Snow
o HOMR
o Pokey Mom
o Worst Episode Ever
o Additional Bonus Features Include:
-Commentaries featuring Executives Producers, Writers, Directors, Cast and many more
-Deleted Scenes
-Comic Book Guy: Best. Moments. Ever. featurette
-Illustrated Commentary: HOMR

Disc Three:
o Tennis the Menace
o Day of the Jackanapes
o New Kids on the Blecch
o Hungry, Hungry Homer
o Bye Bye Nerdie
o Simpsons Safari
o Additional Bonus Features Include:
-Commentaries featuring Executives Producers, Writers, Directors, Cast and many more
-Deleted Scenes
-Animation Showcase: Day of the Jackanapes

Disc Four:
o Trilogy of Error
o I’m Goin’ to Praiseland
o Children of a Lesser Clod
o Simpson Tall Tales
o Additional Bonus Features Include:
-Commentaries featuring Executives Producers, Writers, Directors, Cast and many more
-Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by Executive Producer Mike Scully
-Global Fanfest
-Sketch Gallery
-Illustrated Commentary: I’m Goin’ to Praiseland
-The Commercials

About “THE SIMPSONS”
Currently the longest-running sitcom on television, The Simpsons aired their historic 400th episode in May 2007, followed by the hugely successful The Simpsons Movie in July 2007. The critically acclaimed series features Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson who take traditional family life and turn them upside down. Exploding into a cultural phenomenon in 1990, The Simpsons has remained one of the most visible and marketable properties both domestically and internationally. The Simpsons is noted for its famous celebrity guest voices and received a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in January of 2000. In Spring 2008 The Simpsons Ride opened at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and Hollywood, CA.

This multi-Emmy Award®-winning series is currently in production of its 21st Season. The Simpsons is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the Executive Producers. The Gracie Films Licensing and Marketing Division develops and produces the DVD collection for the series. Film Roman is the animation house.

About TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on DVD, Blu-ray Disc (BD) and Digital Copy as well as acquisitions and original productions. The company also releases all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets – from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce – throughout the world. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company.

Technorati Tags: The Simpsons, DVD Clips, Season 12, DVD Release, 20th Century Fox, TV Show

Series to Wrap-up with Nine Episodes in Summer 2010

SAVING GRACE Averaging 3.5 Million Viewers Going into the Summer Finale on Aug. 18

TNT will conclude the fascinating journey of Oklahoma City Police Det. Grace Hanadarko in 2010, when the network’s groundbreaking original series SAVING GRACE will come to an end. SAVING GRACE will wrap up with a nine-episode run planned for next summer. The provocative drama stars Oscar® winner Holly Hunter (The Piano), who this year received the second of two consecutive Emmy® nominations for her no-holds-barred performance. Hunter also serves as executive producer of SAVING GRACE, along with show creator Nancy Miller (Any Day Now), Gary A. Randall (Any Day Now, Leaving L.A.) and Artie Mandelberg (Leaving L.A., Mr. & Mrs. Smith). For its current summer run, which ends Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), the show has averaged more than 3.5 million viewers and ranks first in its time period among viewers, households, adults 25-54 and women 25-54.

“Since SAVING GRACE began in 2007, the series has both challenged and entertained viewers in ways few other shows on television ever dare,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “The show’s continued success is thanks to the amazing talents of Holly Hunter and Nancy Miller, along with a tremendous ensemble cast and a highly skilled production team. They have taken us on a unique journey, and we look forward to seeing where it will ultimately lead.”

In SAVING GRACE, which comes to TNT from Fox Television Studios, Hunter’s Grace Hanadarko is a high-spirited detective who holds nothing back, whether on the job or in her personal life. The series follows as she investigates brutal crimes while also trying to find balance in her conflicted relationship with her partner, Ham (Kenneth Johnson – The Shield), whose grief she helped soothe after the death of his brother in Afghanistan. Grace also has to deal with her unconventional last-chance angel, Earl (Leon Rippy – Deadwood), whose interaction and occasional interference in her life is, according to him, all part of some master plan that even he doesn’t fully understand.

In this summer’s episodes, Earl has worked to create a connection between Grace and a young addict named Neely (Yaani King – The Prince & Me), whose life may eventually be in Grace’s hands. While trying to figure out Earl’s plans, Grace has also provided firm support for her best friend, criminalist Rhetta Rodriguez (Laura San Giacomo – Just Shoot Me), who is emotionally despondent over losing her family home and catching her husband in an affair.

Grace’s circle also includes her admiring nephew, Clay (Dylan Minnette – Prison Break); her boss and friend, Kate Perry (Lorraine Toussaint – Any Day Now); and her fellow detectives, Butch Ada (Bailey Chase – Las Vegas) and Bobby Stillwater (Gregory Cruz – Criminal Minds).

For its first season in 2007, SAVING GRACE ranked as ad-supported cable’s #1 new series of the year in delivery of viewers and households. Over its three seasons to date, the show has averaged 4.1 million viewers. This summer, SAVING GRACE has performed well among DVR users, scoring 33% growth among viewers and 34% growth among adults 25-54 when comparing Live to Live + 7 deliveries.

SAVING GRACE is one of six high-profile original dramas that have populated TNT’s Monday-Wednesday lineup this summer. The six dramas – which include Monday’s The Closer and Raising the Bar, Tuesday’s HawthoRNe and Wednesday’s Leverage and Dark Blue – are part of an aggressive TNT strategy to build a slate of quality original programming in primetime.

TNT, one of cable’s top-rated networks, is television’s destination for drama and home to such original series as the acclaimed and highly popular detective drama The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick; Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter; Raising the Bar, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; HawthoRNe, with Jada Pinkett Smith; and Dark Blue, starring Dylan McDermott. TNT also presents such powerful dramas as Bones, CSI: NY, Cold Case, Law & Order, Without a Trace, ER and Charmed; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards®; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is available in high-definition.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

Technorati Tags: TNT, ending series, Saving Grace, Holly Hunter, Summer 2010, television, TV Series, Press Release, TV News

Here is all the details!

Best Buy is offering an exclusive on-pack comic book, which contains codes unlocking content associated with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, available exclusively at Best Buy beginning June 21st!!

**Comic one-pack with all Transformers, Eagle Eye, Disturbia SKUs – while supplies last

**For a limited time, Transformers: Special Edition on sale for $14.99, Blu-ray on sale for $19.99

Content:

**Behind the Scenes video from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Video Game, featuring interviews with Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox and Peter Cullen discussing their voice recording experience for the game, plus game footage!
**Behind The Scenes footage of Linkin Park during the making of the video for “New Divide”
**Digital comic of IDW’s “Alliance”, the first prequel to the upcoming Transformers movie. “Alliance” readers will learn more about what happened to SECTOR SEVEN, what happened to the AUTOBOTS and why their war on our planet is far from over
**…and 2 more pieces!

So, head over to Best Buy this weekend and pick up your Transformers prequel Comic Book. This is a limited time offer, so get em while they’re hot!

Technorati Tags: Comic Book, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Best Buy, Michael Bay, Movie Release, DVD

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Launches New Interactive Site GhostbustersIsHiring.com

Enter a Sweepstakes to Win a Trip for Two to Comic-Con 2010
and Have a Puft-load of Fun Submitting “Job Applications” to Become Part of the Ghostbusters Team …

Ghostbusters Arrives June 16 on Blu-Ray™ High Definition

CULVER CITY, CALIF. (May 27, 2009) – Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has created a new interactive Web site for Ghostbusters fans worldwide. GhostbustersIsHiring.com, launching today, offers fans the opportunity to be a part of the Ghostbusters 25th anniversary frenzy this summer, including the Blu-ray release of Ghostbusters on June 16.

Visitors to the site will be greeted by Harold Ramis, the movie’s co-writer/star, who invites them to participate in a number of activities. First, GhostbustersIsHiring.com is offering fans the chance to win a trip next year to the ultimate comic book convention, Comic-Con 2010 in San Diego, by simply filling out an online sweepstakes application. (No purchase is required for any aspect of the site.)

Fans can also submit their own personalized video for a chance to be featured on BD Live and GhostbustersIsHiring.com. “Candidates” are asked to submit a “job application” by showing that they have what it takes to be a part of the Ghostbusters team. Fans can post their content to a video site and submit their link to GhostbustersIsHiring.com for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to select its favorites to be featured.

Fans can also check out what they look like as part of the Ghostbusters team by participating in the photo upload option. Additionally, fans will receive a $5 “trainee discount” towards the purchase of Ghostbusters on Blu-ray.

Ghostbusters arrives on Blu-ray on June 16, 2009. Directed by Ivan Reitman, the sci-fi comedy stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Annie Potts, Rick Moranis and Ernie Hudson. The high-def set oozes with special features and interactivity, among them, the Slimer Mode, a picture-in-picture graphical viewing experience; and a featurette on the refurbishing of Ecto-1.

Technorati Tags: Ghostbusters, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Ghostbustersishiring, Ghostbusters is Hiring, Comedy, Classic, Ghosts, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Annie Potts, Rick Moranis

“We are thrilled to extend our long-standing relationship with Producer Bill Kong and our partners at Samuel Goldwyn,” said Adrian Alperovich, SPWAG. “This film will absolutely blow audiences away.”

“We had a great collaboration with Sony Pictures in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and we feel so excited to work with them again. Blood: the Last Vampire is action-packed and powerful, and we can’t wait to show this movie to audiences over the world,” remarked Bill Kong.

Echoes Meyer Gottlieb, President, Samuel Goldwyn Films: “We feel extremely fortunate to once again collaborate with our friends at Sony. Blood is incredibly entertaining with some of the most exciting action sequences I’ve ever seen on film. Audiences are in for a real treat.”

For more, visit www.BloodTheLastVampire-Movie.com.

Technorati Tags: Blood The Last Vampire, English Language Film, Anime, Cartoon, Live Action, Saya, Demon Slayer

They were once steeped in affluence and privilege, enjoying a luxurious lifestyle in East Hampton while they defied convention amidst the social royalty. Based on the women who inspired the Maysles Brothers’ 1975 documentary, the HBO Film starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange, tells the story of “Big Edie” and “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale, relatives of Jacqueline Onassis, whose eccentric, mutually dependent lives played out in a decaying house known as Grey Gardens.

Using the documentary as a framework, Michael Sucsy’s original story for GREY GARDENS offers a wry, behind-the-scenes look at the Beales and their unique mother-daughter bond. Told over the span of four decades, the film focuses on their glamorous and well-heeled lives long before the making of the documentary and on the circumstances behind their riches-to-rags story. Daniel Baldwin and Malcolm Gets co-star with Ken Howard and Jeanne Tripplehorn.

Directed by Michael Sucsy; story by Michael Sucsy, teleplay by Michael Sucsy and Patricia Rozema. Lucy Donnelly, Rachael Horovitz and Michael Sucsy are executive producers; David Coatsworth produces.

Technorati Tags: TV Movie, HBO, Drew Barrymore, Jessica Lange, Grey Gardens, Kennedy, April 18, Premiere, Saturday, Trailer

Alzheimer’s, a fatal, irreversible and progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, takes a great toll on the physical and emotional well-being not just of the patient, but of the caregiver as well. It is estimated that there may be as many as five million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, with about 70% of those cared for at home by family and friends. Overall, nearly ten million Americans provide 8.5 billion hours of unpaid care annually to people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease progresses differently in every person – survival time can be four to six years after diagnosis, or as long as 20 years. By the time someone with Alzheimer’s enters the early-stage disease, they begin to need help. They need a caregiver.

THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT: CAREGIVERS, debuting TUESDAY, MAY 12 (7:00-8:00 p.m. ET/PT), is a collection of five family portraits that illustrate caring for different stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Each highlights the sacrifices, struggles and successes made by those experiencing their loved ones’ descent into dementia. These caregivers can vividly remember the extraordinary lives their loved ones led as they watch their spouses and siblings slowly slip away with each passing day.

Other HBO playdates: May 14 (9:30 a.m., 9:00 p.m.), 17 (3:30 p.m.), 20 (midnight) and 30 (10:00 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: May 13 (midnight) and 17 (midnight)

CAREGIVERS is directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Bill Couturié and created by the award-winning team behind HBO’s acclaimed “Addiction” project. A multi-platform four-part documentary series, THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT takes a close look at groundbreaking discoveries made by some of the country’s leading scientists, as well as the effects of this debilitating and fatal disease both on those with Alzheimer’s and on their families. Maria Shriver executive produces.

Featured in CAREGIVERS:
Chuck, who cared for his mother until she died, discusses the rare genetic mutation that resulted in 12 of the 14 children in his mother’s family dying from Alzheimer’s. Diagnosed in 2004, Chuck, at age 54, tries to cope with its onset, supported by his wife Marianne. While he appears healthy and lucid, he confesses embarrassment at the prospect of slipping into dementia. Living in the moment, Chuck and Marianne move forward into the next chapter of their lives. Says Marianne, “I still feel we can enjoy a lot of things right now. We both try to stay in the present.” Adds Chuck, “At this moment there is something beautiful going on around me that I can enjoy, so I choose to find the part that’s really beautiful and enjoy it.”

Jude cares for Daphne, her partner of 24 years, who was once a brilliant astrophysicist. After six years, Daphne falls ill and is hospitalized. Though encouraged by Daphne’s indomitable spirit, Jude struggles with denial, as well as the loss of the woman she loves. She eventually confronts her partner’s mortality and finds solace at a local Alzheimer’s Association support group. Daphne comments, “Alzheimer’s is just a part of my life. And I get along with it. I try not to dwell on it.”

When Nacho is diagnosed with the disease, his son Mike takes him into his home, sacrificing his own health and losing his girlfriend. As his father’s condition worsens, Mike is no longer able to care for Nacho alone and must have him admitted to a nursing home. Mike and his siblings meet regularly at the facility to discuss the increased challenges caused by their father’s disruptive sleep patterns. Says Mike, “You try not to worry about, you know, how bad it is or how bad it’s going to get. And just kind of deal with it day-by-day.”

Jackie cared for her husband Marvine at home for as long as she could. Since he was admitted into a nursing home, she visits him every day. Her optimism and faith are a clear source of strength for her husband and family, as well as other residents she has befriended at the facility. “Even in the end stage, you can make them feel good about themselves – it’s a miraculous thing to see,” comments Jackie. The couple celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and Marvine’s 72nd birthday with a family party at the nursing home.

Terry discusses the difficulties of caring for his late wife Pat as she declined from Alzheimer’s. After years of mourning her, Terry feels blessed to have found love again with his new wife, Suzanne. Together, the two dedicate much of their time caring for other patients living with the disease.

The three other documentaries in THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT are: “The Memory Loss Tapes,” providing an up-close and personal look at seven individuals living with Alzheimer’s, each in an advancing state of dementia ranging across the full spectrum of the disease; “ ‘Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am?’ with Maria Shriver,” capturing what it means to be a child or grandchild of one who has Alzheimer’s; and the two-part “Momentum in Science,” exploring the latest research advances.

While there is no cure for the disease, THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT shows there is now genuine reason to be optimistic about the future. Seeking to bring a new understanding of the disease, it features a four-part documentary series, 15 short supplemental films, a robust website and a nationwide community-based information and outreach campaign. A book by Public Affairs Books was developed by the producers as a companion to the project. HBO will use all of its platforms, including the HBO main service, multiplex channels, HBO On Demand, HBO Podcasts, hbo.com, HBO Channel on YouTube and DVD sales, to support the project.

THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT is presented by HBO Documentary Films and the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health in association with the Alzheimer’s Association®, Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund and Geoffrey Beene Gives Back® Alzheimer’s Initiative. The series producer is John Hoffman; the executive producers are Sheila Nevins and Maria Shriver.

Technorati Tags: The Alzheimer’s Project, HBO, Maria Shriver, Caregivers, Documentary, May 12

“This is a time when scientific opportunities are enormously exciting and unprecedented in the area of Alzheimer’s disease research.”

— Richard J. Hodes, MD, Director of the National Institute on Aging, NIH

In 1906, Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German pathologist, discovered lesions in the brain of a woman who died of dementia at age 56. For 80 years, there was little progress in understanding the disease that now bears his name. More recently, however, there has been an exponential increase in the understanding of what causes Alzheimer’s and how it can be treated and possibly even prevented.

THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT: MOMENTUM IN SCIENCE is a two-part, state-of-the-science odyssey that takes viewers inside the laboratories and clinics of 25 leading scientists and physicians, revealing some of the most cutting-edge research advances. Part 1 debuts MONDAY, MAY 11 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT), followed by Part 2 on TUESDAY, MAY 12 (8:00-9:00 p.m.).

Other HBO playdates for Part 1: May 12 (4:30 p.m.), 15 (10:00 a.m., 8:00 p.m.), 16 (5:00 p.m.) and 27 (midnight)

HBO2 playdates for Part 1: May 13 (10:00 p.m.) and 18 (noon, midnight)

Other HBO playdates for Part 2: May 15 (11:00 a.m., 9:00 p.m.), 17 (4:30 p.m.) and 28 (midnight)

HBO2 playdates for Part 2: May 13 (11:00 p.m.) and 19 (noon, 11:30 p.m.)

“It is critically important that the public understand where we stand with Alzheimer’s research, both the progress being made and the challenge of the task ahead as the population ages and the risk of Alzheimer’s increases,” notes Dr. Richard Hodes, Director of the National Institute on Aging, NIH. Much of the research highlighted in the film is supported by the public through the National Institute on Aging and other components of the Federal Government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH).

“My great hope is that we will see a steady decline in the severity of Alzheimer’s, that we will push back its onset, and that we will shorten the time people suffer this terrible decline of their most human qualities,” comments Dennis Selkoe, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In fact, says Selkoe, there are already a number of study findings “that suggest we’re on the right track.”

While there is no cure for the disease, THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT shows that there is now genuine reason to be optimistic about the future. Created by the award-winning team behind HBO’s acclaimed “Addiction” project, MOMENTUM IN SCIENCE is produced by John Hoffman and Susan Froemke.

Two years in the making, MOMENTUM IN SCIENCE details the current explosion of knowledge within the scientific and medical communities, from imaging the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s, to understanding the roles that genetics and lifestyle might play, to the tremendous progress being made in the effort to develop drugs to treat or even prevent the disease. A complex disease that may have no single cause, Alzheimer’s is thought to develop from the interaction of multiple factors over many years. Scientists are zeroing in on what might cause Alzheimer’s or protect against it, exploring intriguing links to heart disease and diabetes, as well as the possible benefits of exercise, where studies in animals and short-term clinical trials have demonstrated positive effects on brain health.

“We’re light years ahead of where we were in 1994, when former president Reagan came to the Mayo Clinic,” explains Ronald Petersen, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic. “In the last five to ten years, we’ve made enormous strides in understanding the biology of Alzheimer’s disease. We know which abnormalities in the brain are likely causing the symptoms of memory loss, confusion, irritability and aggression, language breakdown and general withdrawal.”

Groundbreaking advances in brain imaging are allowing scientists to peer into the living brain to see brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease at their earliest stages. Researchers can now see the presence of beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles, two hallmarks of the disease, where previously the only way to study the brain changes of Alzheimer’s was at autopsy. These new techniques will allow scientists to observe experimental treatments on the brain.

In 2004, doctors at the University of Pittsburgh invented a remarkable imaging dye that reveals, for the first time, beta-amyloid plaques in the living brain. Through studying volunteers who have a genetic mutation that causes early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, such as the five out of six DeMoe siblings featured in MOMENTUM IN SCIENCE, Part 2, researchers are now able to better understand how Alzheimer’s progresses for people with both early- and late-onset forms of the disease.

Exercise and healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels all may contribute to increasing one’s chances for a long and healthy cognitive life, new research suggests. In MOMENTUM IN SCIENCE, Part 2, Carl Cotman, PhD, UC Irvine, explains his research findings in mice, commenting, “Certainly, in animal models, there is no question that exercise can induce growth factors in the brain. It can help build new neurons into the circuits, it can build synapses, improve learning, and it can basically improve vascular function.”

Revolutionary pharmaceutical approaches to treating and preventing Alzheimer’s are reaching final stages of drug testing. Clinical trials of 91 drugs were underway as of 2008, including several beta-amyloid vaccines that have broken new ground in the field of Alzheimer’s research. Paul Aisen, MD, Director of the NIA-supported Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study, states, “There is a sense of excitement in the field of drug development for Alzheimer’s disease that I think is beyond anything else in healthcare now.”

Scientists on the front lines of research featured in Part 1 of MOMENTUM IN SCIENCE include: Dennis Selkoe, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, who was one of the first to identify beta-amyloid as a culprit in Alzheimer’s; Suzanne Craft, PhD, VA Puget Sound and University of Washington School of Medicine, who is teasing out the connections between diabetes, insulin resistance and Alzheimer’s; Charles DeCarli, MD, UC Davis Medical School, a neuroimaging expert who believes that high blood pressure and atherosclerosis could contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s; and Thomas Beach, MD, PhD, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, who studies the role of cholesterol in the Alzheimer’s disease process and has demonstrated that the brain arteries of people with Alzheimer’s contain much more cholesterol build-up than those of cognitively normal individuals.

Pioneering researchers spotlighted in Part 2 of MOMENTUM IN SCIENCE include: psychiatrist William Klunk, MD, PhD, and physicist Chester Mathis, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who worked together to invent the new imaging technology that allows researchers to see amyloid plaques inside the living brain; Scott Small, MD, Columbia University Medical Center, who is using MRI technology to pinpoint the first signs of cell dysfunction deep within the brain and distinguish the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s from that caused by normal aging; Carl Cotman, PhD, UC Irvine, an expert on the aging brain who is seeking to understand how exercise and diet might affect the trajectory of cognitive decline; and Dale Schenk, PhD, of Elan Pharmaceuticals, who originated the out-of-the-box idea of treating Alzheimer’s with a vaccine and has brought the exciting approach of immunization to the final stage of clinical drug trials.

Scientists from the National Institute on Aging’s Division of Neuroscience, the Alzheimer’s Association, and additional investigators from a number of research centers also provided technical advice and insights that brought the highest levels of scientific expertise to the films.

THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT seeks to bring a wider understanding of the disease to the American public through a four-part documentary series, 15 short supplemental films, a robust website and a nationwide community-based information and outreach campaign. A book published by Public Affairs Books was developed by the producers as a companion to the project. HBO will use all of its platforms, including the HBO main service, multiplex channels, HBO On Demand, HBO Podcasts, hbo.com, HBO Channel on YouTube and DVD sales, to support the project.

The three other documentaries in THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT are: “The Memory Loss Tapes,” providing an up-close and personal look at seven individuals and their families living with Alzheimer’s, each in an advancing state of dementia across the full spectrum of the progression of the disease; “ ‘Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am?’ with Maria Shriver,” capturing what it means to be a child or grandchild of a person who has Alzheimer’s; and “Caregivers,” highlighting the sacrifices and successes of people who experience their loved ones’ descent into dementia.

THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT is presented by HBO Documentary Films and the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health in association with the Alzheimer’s Association®, Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund and Geoffrey Beene Gives Back® Alzheimer’s Initiative. The series producer is John Hoffman; the executive producers are Sheila Nevins and Maria Shriver.

Technorati Tags: The Alzheimer’s Project, HBO, Maria Shriver, Documentary, May 11, May 12

“I’ve been a child of Alzheimer’s since my father, Sargent Shriver, was diagnosed in 2003. My children are children of Alzheimer’s and I’ve learned a lot from them in how to deal with a parent who has Alzheimer’s. There are many lessons that our children can teach us as more and more of us deal with parents who have Alzheimer’s.”

– Maria Shriver

THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT: “GRANDPA, DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?” WITH MARIA SHRIVER is geared towards children and young teens coping with a grandparent’s illness, presenting vignettes that can help a child understand and deal with a relative’s gradual decline into Alzheimer’s. Inspired by her children’s book “What’s Happening to Grandpa?,” and her own experience with her father, Sargent Shriver, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, Maria Shriver provides commentary and guidance in five lessons that offer advice on how grandchildren can cope with the experiences of having loved ones with the disease.

“GRANDPA, DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?” WITH MARIA SHRIVER provides ways for young people to understand a grandparent’s loss of memory and understand that this experience, though painful, is a part of life. Featuring five portraits of children facing their grandparents’ illness, the half-hour documentary debuts MONDAY, MAY 11 (7:30-8:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, and is part of the multi-platform, four-part documentary series THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT, created by the award-winning team behind HBO’s acclaimed “Addiction.”

Other HBO playdates: May 12 (4:00 p.m.), 15 (9:30 a.m., 7:30 p.m.), 17 (3:00 p.m.), 23 (8:15 a.m.) and 27 (6:30 a.m.)

HBO 2 playdates: May 13 (9:30 p.m.) and 20 (noon, 11:00 p.m.)

While there is no cure for the disease, THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT shows there is now genuine reason to be optimistic about the future. THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT takes a close look at groundbreaking discoveries made by the country’s leading scientists, as well as the effects of this debilitating and fatal disease both on those with Alzheimer’s and on their families.

The five lessons of “GRANDPA, DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?” WITH MARIA SHRIVER include:

Lesson 1: There Are No Silly Questions You Can Ask About Alzheimer’s
The first segment shows siblings Genevieve, 13, Margaret, 10, and Liam, 8, talking with their grandfather, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, asking how the disease is affecting him and discussing the future of their relationship with him. Shriver stresses the importance of bringing the disease out into the open, recalling, “When my father was diagnosed, this was not a disease that people wanted to talk about. The more families sit down and have these open, honest conversations where everybody can air their questions and express their fears – that is empowering and really helpful.”

Lesson 2: When It Comes To Alzheimer’s, Just Go With The Flow As Best You Can
Thousands of children are increasingly involved in difficult caregiver responsibilities at home. Sarah, 15, takes care of her grandmother, who is in a more advanced stage of Alzheimer’s. Though distraught by her grandmother’s mood swings, Sarah finds that playing Elvis for her brings her grandmother back to a happier state.

Lesson 3: It’s Okay To Be Afraid Of Alzheimer’s
Shriver also discusses the difficulties of traveling long distances to visit grandparents. Sisters Megan, 15, and Danielle, 13, find it painful to see their grandmother, who no longer knows who they are. Having to travel hundreds of miles across two states – from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts – the girls are reticent to visit again. They want to keep the memory of their grandmother as she was before the disease fully took hold.

Lesson 4: Sometimes It’s The Disease Talking, Not Your Grandparent
Ashanti, 11, visits her grandmother every day after school, and finds her loving at one moment, and unexpectedly cruel at others. Shriver explains that when people suffering from Alzheimer’s get angry or don’t speak, it isn’t because of the people around them, but rather the result of the disease. But showing up and being there can bring love into that person’s life for a period of time.

Lesson 5: You Can Be The Keeper Of Memories
Alyssa, 15, decides to understand more about her grandmother’s life before Alzheimer’s by making a documentary. She interviews many of her close friends, goes through old pictures with her father, and asks her grandfather why he first fell in love with her grandmother. Shriver encourages children to learn more about the full and vibrant lives that their grandparent lived before he or she was affected by Alzheimer’s, and remembers the life her own father lived before the disease.

Seeking to bring a wider understanding of the disease, THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT features a four-part documentary series, 15 short supplemental films, a robust website and a nationwide community-based information and outreach campaign. A book by Public Affairs Books was developed by the producers as a companion to the project. HBO will use all of its platforms, including the HBO main service, multiplex channels, HBO On Demand, HBO Podcasts, hbo.com, HBO Channel on YouTube and DVD sales, to support the project.

The three other documentaries in THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT are: “The Memory Loss Tapes,” providing an up-close and personal look at seven individuals living with Alzheimer’s, each in an advancing state of dementia, ranging across the full spectrum of the progression of the disease; the two-part “Momentum in Science,” exploring the latest research advances; and “Caregivers,” highlighting the sacrifices and successes of people who experience their loved ones’ descent into dementia.

“GRANDPA, DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?” WITH MARIA SHRIVER is directed by Eamon Harrington and John Watkin.

THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT is presented by HBO Documentary Films and the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health in association with the Alzheimer’s Association®, Fidelity® Charitable Gift Fund and Geoffrey Beene Gives Back® Alzheimer’s Initiative. The series producer is John Hoffman; the executive producers are Sheila Nevins and Maria Shriver.

For more information on THE ALZHEIMER’S PROJECT and Alzheimer’s Disease, go to HBO.com/Alzheimers.

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