Leeza Gibbons To Feature In Larry King's CNN Alzheimer's Special

Leeza's Place, the signature program of The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, will feature on Larry King's new CNN special on Alzheimer’s in May.

On Sunday, May 1st, CNN will air “Unthinkable: the Alzheimer’s Epidemic” premiering at 8pm ET/PT. Larry’s cameras caught up with Leeza Gibbons as she interviews caregivers about their experiences dealing with the “thief of memories”. Leeza also takes Larry’s cameras inside one of her Leeza’s Place support centers where caregivers participate in programs and activities to help nourish themselves as they provide comfort and care for their loved ones.

It’s being called the disease of the 21st century as an estimated 5.4 million people have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It is the sixth-leading cause of death across all ages in the United States, but many Americans still do not know much about this illness. The one-hour special will look into Alzheimer’s disease, who gets it and why, the race to find effective treatments and a possible cure.

Host Larry King will be joined by people who have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease and will include interviews with former First Lady Laura Bush and California’s former First Lady and Alzheimer’s activist Maria Shriver; actors Seth Rogen, and Angie Dickinson; David Hyde Pierce; TV host Leeza Gibbons; football star Terrell Owens and son of President Ronald Reagan, Ron Reagan. Neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta will explain what Alzheimer’s is and how this disease affects the human brain.

In addition to visiting the Mayo Clinic, Larry King will visit the cutting-edge Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas, and he will be joined by Ron Reagan. While there, one of them will take a brain scan that will indicate if he is at risk for Alzheimer’s or other memory disorders, and one will opt out. Tune in and as they will share the results with the audience and talk to Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, Director, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and Larry Ruvo, philanthropist and visionary, to see how doctors are treating patients and what people can do to diminish their risk for Alzheimer’s.

The special hour will also broadcast on CNNi and will re-air on Saturday, May 7 at 8pm ET/PT. For additional information please visit CNN.com.