Global brain and eye research nonprofit BrightFocus Foundation today launched its “Stop Alzheimer’s Disease” campaign featuring renowned actor, producer, and writer Andre Royo, known for his iconic portrayal as Reginald “Bubbles” Cousins in HBO’s groundbreaking drama “The Wire” and upcoming roles in James Gunn’s “Superman: Man of Tomorrow” and Amazon’s “Delphi,” set in the Creed universe and produced by Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society.

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The campaign highlights the urgency of continued funding for Alzheimer’s research and awareness of research-backed healthy lifestyle changes to reduce risk.

Andre’s connection to Alzheimer’s is rooted in his own family’s experience, making the campaign especially meaningful to him. Andre’s mother, Andrea Royo, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2021. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Ms. Royo was an artist and dancer who trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City and was accepted to Juilliard. She loved music, especially salsa. She was married to Andre’s father, Louie Royo, for 64 years. After she and Mr. Royo moved to Las Vegas, Ms. Royo found purpose volunteering for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama’s campaign, which ultimately led to her being invited to the White House to meet the president.

“She was really independent. She didn’t like sitting around. She liked to work,” Andre said. “To see someone like her lose her independence and not know who they are, it was wild.”

Andre first noticed something was wrong when Ms. Royo struggled to remember the day of the week. Over time, he noticed her forgetting words and giving up reading, a pastime she had always loved. Initially, he assumed these were normal signs of aging. But as the disease progressed, Ms. Royo gradually lost the ability to feed herself and recognize faces. She became withdrawn and agitated, eventually requiring full-time care. She moved in with Andre, who became her primary caregiver. Ms. Royo died in December 2024 at age 79.

“Caring for my mom forever changed my understanding of love, sacrifice, and the true meaning of being a son. As I became more present and began quelling my own addiction, the intimate moments and stories we shared filled me with pride, love, and a deeper understanding of who she was as a woman. I came to know my mother not only as a parent but as a woman whose life was defined by resilience and selfless love,” Andre said.

Every 35 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, terminal brain disorder and leading cause of dementia that has no known cause or cure. Over 7 million Americans 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Knowledge is power, and when caregivers and loved ones have access to information and support, they can feel more prepared and present for the people they care for,” Andre said. “BrightFocus Foundation’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research program offers free resources to help guide families and caregivers every step of the way.”

Inspired to channel his grief into something positive, Andre wrote and directed Fragments of Joy, a short film that captures Andre’s strength in the face of adversity mirroring his mother’s struggle with the disease. BrightFocus is a sponsor of the film, which premieres this fall.

The experience underscored the importance of learning about diseases such as Alzheimer’s and taking proactive steps to support brain health early in life. For Andre, that journey included confronting his relationship with alcohol and ultimately choosing sobriety.

“If you know about certain diseases like Alzheimer’s and what they can do to you, you combat it by being healthy and being responsible about how you live your life,” he said.

The awareness campaign also features Teri Youngdale, whose mother Gail is living with Alzheimer’s disease. Following her diagnosis, Gail enrolled in a clinical trial for a groundbreaking Alzheimer’s treatment, which has allowed her to continue living independently and maintain her quality of life. After losing her husband of 56 years in 2021, Gail recently reconnected with her high school sweetheart and remarried.

“After she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I saw the fighter in my mom come out,” Teri said. “She inspired me to take my own brain health seriously.”

“Behind every diagnosis is a real person and a story that matters. Personal stories help put a human face on diseases like Alzheimer’s and remind us that these conditions affect entire families and communities,” said BrightFocus President and CEO Stacy Pagos Haller. “As research increasingly points to the benefits of healthy lifestyle choices, we are committed to empowering people with information to support their brain health.”

To learn more about Andre and Teri’s stories, access expert resources, and explore the latest Alzheimer’s research, visit StopAD.org. To watch the Spanish-language spot, visit NoMasEA.org.

About BrightFocus Foundation’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program

Since 1985, BrightFocus Foundation’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research program has invested over $200 million in highly innovative, experimental research and creative ideas with the most promise to foster a better understanding of disease onset, improve early detection and diagnosis, develop new treatments, and—ultimately—lead to a cure.

This early support has enabled major breakthroughs, including the discovery of genes involved in hereditary Alzheimer’s, the first Alzheimer’s blood test to come to market; and methodologies that now allow us to detect brain changes through the eye.

BrightFocus Foundation’s research programs are supported entirely by individual donor contributions from the public and corporate and foundation grants; BrightFocus receives no government funding. Learn more about how to support our work.

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