Jim and Geri’s story

BMS Patients are Waiting

Jim Taylor

Geri and I knew that we needed to fight for Alzheimer's research for our children, for our grandchildren, and for their future. I'm Jim Taylor. I'm a father, a grandfather and until recently, I was a care partner for my wife, Geri. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's back in 2012 and had a 12 year journey with the disease. She passed away last August.

I currently lead an organization called Voices of Alzheimer's, which is a patient advocacy organization for people living with dementia. Geri was my wife for 32 years. We blended our children and family. She was a beautiful person inside and out.

Geri had Alzheimer's and dementia in her family. She began to notice some symptoms in her mid-sixties. She was still working at that time, but she would lose her train of thought in a staff meeting. But one morning, she looked into the mirror and didn't recognize her own face, For me, who had not for a moment accepted the possibility that she had dementia, it was really devastating.

It's a difficult disease at the late stage, but for 12 years Geri was on the journey, and the first eight were particularly really excellent years in our life. 

When Geri was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, we felt an urgency. Not just for us, but for everyone who's waiting for answers, so we jumped in. Into clinical trials, into policy, and into patient advocacy.

Geri and I spent the last decade of our marriage working to empower people with diagnoses like Geri's. And I think we're just beginning to see that empowerment take hold. 

I dream of the day when Geri's descendants don't have to worry about developing Alzheimer's.

Laura Gault

When you hear a story like Jim's story, you can't help but stop and think about the real human impact these diseases have.2 I think it creates a real sense of urgency to bring these treatments forward. With that sense of urgency and the pipeline we have, we have a really good shot at delivering meaningful treatments to these patients.

My name is Laura Gault, and I've joined BMS to lead the neuroscience group. So what I think it's really important for people to understand about our neuroscience pipeline at BMS is how comprehensive it is. We have approaches that treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's.

And we also have approaches that will slow the course of the disease. We will be in a position to deliver meaningful therapies for patients, no matter where they are in their disease progression. And no matter what type of symptoms they have. This is really remarkable and very different from pipelines that others in the industry have. This positions us to have a huge impact in treating this disease.

Jim Taylor

When you’ve walked through Alzheimer's with someone you love, you know how precious the small moments are. These are not small at all.  I am so excited about the scientific advancements and the research that's happening in Alzheimer's.

Laura Gault

For patients living with Alzheimer's and their families, I would like to say that the field has made tremendous progress. I think over the next few years, you'll see a number of new entrants into the market that will really meaningfully impact the course of the disease and also treat the symptoms. So keep the hope. Help is on the way.

Jim Taylor

The right treatment wasn't available in time for Geri. But through an improved understanding of the disease and additional treatment options, there is a chance that the right medication may be existent if and when her children and grandchildren need it in the future.