FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON April 22, 2015

Former Vice President Walter Mondale Receives Public Leadership in Neurology Award

WASHINGTON, DC -

The ��ɫ���� (AAN) and the American Brain Foundation have announced that Walter F. Mondale, former Vice President of the United States, is the recipient of the 2015 Public Leadership in Neurology Award. Mondale is being recognized for his decades-long commitment to raising awareness for brain health. Mondale lost both his wife and daughter to brain diseases. The Public Leadership in Neurology Award honors an individual or group outside of the medical profession. Honorees are known for advancing public understanding and awareness of neurologic disease, being effective advocates for neuroscience research and making significant contributions to improve patient care. Mondale’s daughter Eleanor was diagnosed with a brain tumor and later passed away at the age of 51. Within three years, he also lost his wife Joan, who had both Lewy Body dementia and Parkinson’s disease. “I never want another family to deal with the kind of losses I’ve experienced,” said Mondale. “I’d like to know where the hopeful avenues are, and I’d like to go down those roads and help our doctors and research centers make more progress. If I can help, I want to help.” Mondale will receive the award during the AAN and American Brain Foundation Awards Luncheon held on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as part of the AAN’s Annual Meeting, the world’s largest gathering of neurologists with more than 12,000 attendees. "If we could find a breakthrough for Alzheimer’s, not only would we improve countless lives, but we have the potential to save the country a projected $1.1 trillion in care costs by 2050,” Mondale said. “Research is absolutely essential—if we can find real answers to these diseases, even if they’re expensive, they’ll pay for themselves.” As a senator from 1964 to 1976, Mondale served on committees related to the National Institutes of Health and worked on passing legislation for expanding Medicare and Medicaid in an effort to improve health care for all Americans. He has also been a long-time advocate for the Mayo Clinic Health System. Esteemed past recipients of the Public Leadership in Neurology Award include Michael J. Fox, Kevin Sorbo, Julie Andrews and many other celebrities dedicated to helping the world understand the crucial need to support brain research. For more information about brain health, visit . The American Brain Foundation, founded by the ��ɫ����, supports crucial research and education to discover causes, improved treatments, and cures for brain and other nervous system diseases. Learn more at or find the Foundation on , , and .

The ��ɫ���� is the leading voice in brain health. As the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with more than 40,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AAN’s mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine.

Explore the latest in neurological disease and brain health, from the minds at the AAN at or find us on , , , and .