The goals we set forth to achieve by creating the Navigate Early Alz episodic mini-series, featuring an individual diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and his wife and caregiver, included:
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is assumed to be a disease that impacts older individuals—however, it can affect younger people, too. Also, AD can start developing silently in an individual many years before symptoms appear. To shed light on the possibility of developing AD at a younger age, foster a sense of hope and connection, as well as inspire those who may be at risk of AD to learn more, we chose to capture their personal experiences on camera. Pako and Zahydie were willing to bravely share stories of his diagnosis and their journey together with vulnerability and strength.
We spent the day with Pako and Zahydie, learning about Pako’s family history of AD, the early signs and symptoms he experienced, and how they coped with his diagnosis. They also explained how they both manage their mental health, and lessons they’ve learned along the way which they wanted to share with others going through a similar experience. The footage captured was built out into a six-part episodic mini-series for the Navigate Early Alz YouTube channel, published on a rolling basis.
To help drive viewers to the full series on YouTube, short teaser videos and social posts were published across social platforms for the Eisai Neurology and Eisai Corporate channels. Promoting new episodes across multiple social platforms ensured that we could reach a wide swath of members of the AD community—including individuals who are diagnosed with AD, their care partners, people who may be at risk for AD, and health care providers who are interested in learning more about patient experience. Social posts employed multiple hashtags, such as #EndAlz and #AlzheimersDisease, to bring the campaign to wider attention while driving viewers to the full-length episodes on YouTube.
The final videos produced for this Navigate Early Alz YouTube mini-series are a testament to the fortitude and strength of not only Pako and Zahydie, but also all of those living with AD, and their ability to face difficult challenges in their day-to-day lives. These videos serve as a resource for those living with AD and their care partners, as well as for those who may be at risk of AD—inspiring them to learn more, speak up, and share the stories of their own journey.
After the launch of the video series in February 2025 and its promotion across social channels, it was clear that the AD community valued Pako and Zaydie’s open and honest conversation about their experience and advice, resulting in:
