The Alzheimer’s Association has selected Bradenton resident Deborah (“Deb”) Jobe to serve on its 2021-2022 Alzheimer’s Association National Early-Stage Advisory Group (ESAG). Jobe is one of 10 individuals chosen to serve on the group, which helps raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementia by sharing their personal insights and experiences of living with dementia with media and other audiences across the country.

More than 6 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, including 580,000 in Florida. ESAG members play an important role in giving voice to those living with the disease and advocate for core Alzheimer’s Association efforts, including increasing concern and awareness of the disease, enhancing care and support programs for individuals and families, advancing public policy initiatives and championing support for disease research.

Chosen from more than 50 applicants across the country, Jobe was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy and mild cognitive impairment in 2019 at the age of 53.  As a member of the ESAG, Jobe says she hopes to help change the public’s perception of what living with dementia is like and educate people on the benefits of early detection and diagnosis.