Mary Springer remembers the moment with painful clarity - the day her mother looked at her without a flicker of recognition. It was the cruelest symptom of the severe dementia that would claim her mother's life at age 75.
"To not have your mother know who you are was devastating," says Springer, now 77 and living in Sun City. "I always said, I don't want that to happen to me. I don't want my daughter to have to go through that."
That heartbreak became her mission. Today, Springer is dually enrolled in two groundbreaking programs at Banner Sun Health Research Institute: the Brain and Body Donation Program and the AHEAD study, a clinical trial investigating whether early intervention can prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease.
When Springer moved to Sun City in 2017, she was determined to take control of her brain health destiny. By 2019, she had enrolled in a genetics testing program that revealed she carried high-risk markers for Alzheimer's disease. She was accepted into a clinical trial and underwent extensive testing, preparing to begin treatment.
Then came the disappointment: the drug manufacturer canceled the trial after determining the medication wasn't effective.
"I had the markers and didn't know what to do," Springer recalls. But she refused to give up.
She discovered the research programs at Banner Health and immediately pursued enrollment. After comprehensive testing, including a brain scan that detected amyloid plaques in her brain - an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease — she was accepted into the AHEAD study.
"I haven't regretted one minute of it," she says.
The AHEAD study represents a paradigm shift in Alzheimer's research. Rather than treating people after symptoms appear, it investigates whether an FDA-approved medication can slow or prevent cognitive decline in individuals who show biological markers for the disease but haven't yet experienced significant symptoms.
Springer is now in her second year of the four-year study, currently requiring monthly visits to BSHRI. The trial is double-blind, meaning neither she nor her research team knows whether she's receiving the active medication or a placebo—at least not yet.
"After the four years is up, no matter what, you get the drug," she explains. "Right now, I'm doing a once-a-month visit."
The weight of her mother's early death is never far from her mind. "My mother was gone at 75, and I'm 77," she says quietly. "That weighs heavily on me."
Yet Springer reports no concerning cognitive decline beyond what she considers normal age-related changes. "I feel I have quite a few years left in me," she says with characteristic optimism.
For Springer, participation in these studies goes far beyond personal benefit.
"This is my passion," she emphasizes. "I don't want to suffer like my mother suffered. If I can help anyone else, it means a lot to me.
"She recently took another significant step by enrolling in the Brain and Body Donation Program, which will allow researchers to study her brain tissue after death — potentially providing crucial insights that could help future generations.
"I totally believe in this, and I love the people over there," she says of the BSHRI team. "The people at BSHRI are so wonderful. They can't be any nicer. I feel like I couldn't be in better hands."
While participating in cutting-edge research, Springer maintains an active lifestyle designed to keep her mind engaged. For the past three years, she's been a member of Sun City's Silver Club, where she crafts intricate silver jewelry — bracelets, rings, and necklaces.
"Most of my stuff, I give away," she says with a laugh. "I haven't sold anything in three years. I make them for gifts for my friends and family."
She also plays cards regularly with friends and enjoys mah jong. "I do things to keep my mind active," she explains — a strategy supported by research showing that social engagement and mentally stimulating activities may help maintain cognitive health.
The medication being studied in the AHEAD trial is already FDA-approved for people diagnosed in the early symptomatic stages of Alzheimer's disease. The question researchers are asking is whether intervening earlier - in people with Alzheimer’s changes in the brain, but before significant symptoms appear - can slow or prevent the devastating progression Springer witnessed in her mother.
"If it slows things down compared to what my mother went through, I'd be thrilled," she says.
She's contributing to a body of research that could transform how we prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease, ensuring that fewer families experience the heartbreak she and her mother endured.
"If I can help anyone else," she says, "it means a lot to me."
Note: Testimonials provided by trial participants are personal experiences and do not necessarily represent the views of the trial sponsor. They are not a substitute for medical advice, and the results of the trial may vary based on individual circumstances. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.
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