NHK Documentary

My Mom Has Dementia: A Neuroscientist's Care Diary

Ever since neuroscientist Onzo Ayako's mother Keiko was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease seven years ago, she has been balancing a double role of both caregiver and scientific observer. Faced with the prospect of losing the mother she knows, Ayako has kept a daily record of her behavior, as well as taking regular MRIs to track the physical changes in her mother's brain. With a special interest in complex emotions and brain function, Ayako hopes the insights she gains can one day help others living with dementia. Touching on the deepest questions of what makes a person who they are, we follow mother and daughter on their journey of reconnection and discovery amid the challenges.