The Oscar-winning actress challenges misconceptions about aging and brain health.
NEW YORK, United States. More than a decade after her Academy Award-winning performance in Still Alice, Julianne Moore continues to advocate for greater awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, emphasizing that cognitive decline caused by the condition should never be dismissed as an inevitable consequence of growing older.
In recent interviews with People and Everyday Health, the 65-year-old actress reflected on how portraying Alice Howland, a linguistics professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, transformed her understanding of the disease.
Before filming the 2014 drama, Moore acknowledged knowing relatively little about Alzheimer’s. Preparing for the role involved conversations with patients, caregivers, physicians and neuropsychiatrists, exposing her to the practical and emotional challenges associated with progressive memory loss.
One discovery particularly influenced her perspective: Alzheimer’s is a neurological disease, not a normal stage of aging.
That distinction is supported by the United States National Institute on Aging, which explains that occasional forgetfulness can accompany aging, while dementia involves cognitive changes severe enough to interfere with everyday functioning.
Although the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s increases with age, the disease is not inevitable.
Moore’s commitment extended beyond her performance, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2015. In 2025, she partnered with pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly through its Brain Health Matters awareness campaign, continuing that collaboration in 2026.
The initiative encourages individuals to discuss changes in memory, reasoning and cognitive functioning with healthcare professionals rather than waiting for symptoms to become more disruptive.
Moore has also highlighted advances in diagnostic research, including blood tests measuring biomarkers such as phosphorylated tau 217, or p-tau217, which may help clinicians assess Alzheimer’s-related pathology in appropriately selected patients.
However, such tests require medical interpretation and are not intended to replace comprehensive clinical evaluation or serve as routine screening for everyone without symptoms.
Beyond medical assessment, the actress advocates everyday practices associated with maintaining cognitive wellbeing: regular physical activity, adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, meaningful social relationships and intellectually stimulating experiences.
Learning a language, exploring unfamiliar activities and maintaining personal connections are among the habits she considers valuable.
These practices may support overall brain health, but none guarantees prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
Moore also emphasizes the importance of reducing the stigma surrounding cognitive concerns. Recognizing symptoms early can help individuals and families obtain appropriate assessments, understand available care options and make informed decisions.
Her experience illustrates how a film performance can develop into sustained public-health advocacy.
For millions of families affected by dementia, the central message extends beyond celebrity awareness: understanding the difference between normal aging and neurological disease can encourage earlier conversations, more informed care and greater compassion.
Where Facts Meet Perspective.