>> shep: sugar ray. all four are american icons. yet they all shared one life altering event. each had alzheimer's. we can find no evidence that they spoke publicly about their disease ever.

>> shep: according to a study of harvard public school health, people fear getting alzheimer's more than any other disease except cancer. government researchers more than 5 million have alzheimer's and 42 million adults care important someone with alzheimer's. awareness is a big key if were to find a cure and when famous people talk about the disease it raises awareness. >> mr. gorbachev, open this gate. [ applause ] >> mr. gorbachev tear down this wall. >> shep: president ronald reagan not only ended cold war but had a sense of humor. >> one of these stories i told to gorbachev and he laughed.

the story was an american and russian arguing about the two counties countries, americans say i can walk into the oval office and pound the president's desk, i can say mr. president i don't like the way you are running your country. russian said i can do that. the american says you can? he says yes, i can go to the kremlin and pound his desk and say, i don't like the way president reagan is running his country. [ laughter ] >> shep: when they diagnosed him with alzheimer's he wrote a letter to the nation with the help of his wife nancy. it reads my fellow americans i have recently been told i am one of the americans who will be afflicted with alzheimer's disease. we feel it is important to share it with you. in opening our hearts we hope it might promote greater awareness awareness of the condition and

perhaps it will show the families affected by it. alzheimer's association president reagan was one of public figures to speak openly about his battle. his announcement removed some of the stigma. >> as we set out this year to defeat the divisive forces that would take freedom away, i once say those fighting words within everyone with the sound of my voice to hear and to heed and especially for you. from my cold dead hands. >> president reagan's friend char ton heston was diagnosed with alzheimer's as 2002. peter jennings heston and his wife on prime time tv. >> will you tell us how you greeted your husband's medical

news? >> i was appalled. i was stunned. i never occurred to me there was anything wrong. >> i don't mean for a second to impose my own emotions on you, but i think i really would be afraid. >> i probably will be afraid, too, when it gets closer but i don't feel that sense. >> what was the family discussion like? >> she got over it very quickly. it was matter of moments almost before she said, okay, we'll go ahead from there. >> she has been extraordinarily reliant on you. >> reliant, are you? >> yes, of course i am. you are the center of my life. >> they say about alzheimer's the problem is not for you.

the problem is for all those around you. >> yes, i'm afraid that is true. >> what do you need to know as you go forward? >> how long and how well i can sustain my condition as it is now. when it stops being that, my life will change beyond a certain point. my life will be over, but i know that. >> shep: the late charlton heston with the late peter jennings. it helped push alzheimer's into the open. you couldn't ignore it. if charlton heston and his wife could talk about it, you could, too. they honored the legendary glen campbell. he got a lifetime achievement award. >> he was diagnosed with alzheimer's disease. tonight we celebrate glen

campbell's music, with the help of the band, and rhinestone cowboy himself. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> when glen campbell was in his 20s he moved to los angeles to pursue his love of music. he was elite group of studio musicians called the wrecking crew. they recorded with sinatra and the monkees. in '70s his hit song took off

"by the time i get to phoenix." ♪ ♪ >> shep: it won him four grammies and he hosted his own variety show. >> glen campbell good time hour. ♪ ♪ >> shep: the show ran for four years making him a household name and the hits just kept coming. ♪ ♪ >> shep: he would eventually record 21 top 40 hits and sell more than 45 million records, one of the biggest names of all music. ♪ ♪

>> shep: the great glen campbell. he has chosen to reveal his fight for alzheimer's by taking his message on the road and performing before millions. coming up, glen campbell's goodbye tour. that's good morning, veggie style. hmmm. for half the calories plus veggie nutrition. could've had a v8. i toog nyguil bud i'm stild stubbed up. [ male announcer ] truth is, nyquil doesn't un-stuff your nose. really? [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus liquid gels fights your worst cold symptoms, plus it relieves your stuffy nose. [ deep breath ] thank you! that's the cold truth!

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♪ during the show glen campbell is assisted by several teleprompters. he relies on them to help them through the concert. also to give him a hand, his daughter ashley. >> he looks at me a lot on stage. just kind of support. to let him know i'm there for him. >> ashley says it was rough when she first learned he had alzheimer's. >> it was a pretty heavy moment. he had been showing signs it for years and years but it was a complete shock. i started noticing it in high school and my friends said it,

too. he would come into the movie room and watching and couple minutes coming in and repeat that several times. we knew something was up. >> you can sometimes see the effects of alzheimer's on stage. >> what do you call this stuff -- i don't even know what is coming up next. >> a lot of times it's like who wrote this song, what key is this in? what song are we doing? >> this is what key, e flat? >> glen's son shannon performs on stage with him each night. >> we will accidentally take mine or my sister's mic. he will put his guitar in weird places on stage.

>> something that shows up on stage that also shows up is his love for his kids. >> i want to introduce my daughter ashley who wants to challenge me to a duel. >> and special place in his heart that he holds in his heart for daughter ashley? >> i'm his baby girl. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> it makes me very much more appreciative of the time i have with him. it makes me spend more quality time with him. be a presence, trying to make his time here happier. >> there are several moments of confusion but for a jordan of the concert, glen exhibits

amazing clarity. the children see it the most when he plays the instrument he has always loved -- the guitar. ♪ ♪ >> his fingers don't know what they are doing so well. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> shep: glen's family says playing music has always brought him happiness. ashley's answer is simple. >> i like his joy for life. ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> shep: but still underlying everything is glen campbell's

disease. >> he is very much aware of it, doesn't like to talk about it so much. maybe sometimes he might even pretend he forgot he had it. i think he knows deep down. >> shep: glen's new song a better place. he plays it last in the condition. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ one thing i know ♪ this whole world has been to me ♪ ♪ there is place the way to see

>> i think hard effort thing for he will see him, seemed him robbed of his facilities. i can't imagine what that would be like. ♪ >> thank you, god bless. >> shep: next glen campbell and his wife share what it's like to deal with alzheimer's. >> people that don't have alzheimer's you have to start being aware of. you need to keep your eyes out just in case. >> you have part-timers, right? vitafusion multivites: the adult gummy vitamin with the taste and nutrition

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>> shep: we sat down with glen campbell and his wife before one of his concerts last year. they told us how their journey began for them and what life is like now. >> we saw signs all the way back to 2003 when he had the drunk driving incident. he had a relapse. he had quit drinking for many years. but then he started experiencing anxiety which i think is symptom of onset of alzheimer's. so i think that was his attempt to self-medicate and deal with the anxiety he was feeling. that is when we went to betty ford and they did testing and found he had some cognitive issues. they sent to us mayo clinic in

scottsdale, arizona. they don't -- they called it mild cognitive impairment. dementia brought on by alcoholism. >> after leaving the clinic they came back to california. >> we kept on with life. >> kept on with life. >> he quit drinking. >> i quit drinking, yeah. i quit cussing and everything. >> shep: they had to make adjustments. >> i'll leave the bathroom light on to make sure he can find it in the middle of the night. just a natural thing for me to be caretaker. >> whatever it is it's amazing. she can read my mind. that is when i really

understood -- she is genius. >> shep: she is by her husband's side almost every moment of each drive. >> i make all the doctor appointments, i drive him. when you get a diagnosis of alzheimer's they take away your driver's license. >> shep: she acts as his memory but it's just reminds of things he happens to forget. >> it was pretty good for '75. >> kim says keeping his music career going is a good coping mechanism. >> he fluctuates. we have bad days. lately he has been in a good place. we've been doing so much music lately, i can't help think that music has something to do with it. music is very healing.

>> shep: one thing hasn't changed is his recognition of his wife's devotion. >> it's really, i realize what a help that she has been to me. and the kids, she don't take anything from the kids. there is a verse in the bible, if a man finds a good wife, he finds a good thing. you found a good thing. >> shep: we saw glen four months later to see how he was doing since the first time we talked and tour is going. >> it's just wonderful. it really is. that is all i can say about it. kids now, all musicians. it's just wonderful. to have the kids out there and playing. when kim goes with me, we all go as a family.

>> it's great. having a wonderful time. >> you got the family with you, it makes a big difference. you not going to the pub and thinking of anything. you are involved with them. ♪ >> shep: seems when he puts things into performing, his alzheimer's fades into the background a bit. >> he is doing better now. >> i feel more like i do now than i did last week. [ laughter ] >> i don't really notice it. i think they must have made this up. you have this so i have to do this. i refuse to do it. >> shep: and he refusing to let the disease get him down. >> i don't pay any attention to it. don't pay any attention to the devil when it comes knocking at

your door. >> we have put a label on that. before that it was grandpa is getting forgetful. people took it in stride and laughed about it and took care of each other. that is the way we're trying to approach it. just part of life. >> kim says she still believes they are doing good by playing night after night. >> the doctors say we're doing all the right things. best thing we can do is keep him active, doing what he has always done and what he loves to do, to have a sense of humor. stress is not good that can make him confused. >> they are keeping me busy so i don't get any in trouble. >> shep: tour will wrap up in june but he won't be done. >> i like to play and sing. that is probably what i do best.

chopping cotton want my favorite thing to do. my favorite thing was to play guitar. >> he hopes along the way to teach lessons to his kids and his fans. >> you don't b.s. be a nice person. don't hurt other people's feelings because -- i hurt people's feelings, i very regretted it. you have to have something that you live for if you really want to live. we have the will power and we have to thank god for our blessings. >> shep: of course, alzheimer's patients aren't the only ones suffer because of the disease. the impact it has on family and friends. >> the look in the eyes, totally

different look. it shows. it really is the long, long goodbye.

... >> reporter: live from america news headquarters, i'm gregg jarrett. an american soldier is being blamed for a deadly shooting rampage outside his military base in afghanistan. 16 people killed including nine children. the soldier is now in u.s. custody. president obama calling it shocking and tragic by president obama. >> hamid karzai calling the shooting an assassination that is unforgivable. >> battle for the republican presidential nomination heading to the deep south. coming up next, two big contests alabama and mississippi on tuesday. a very close race according to the polls which show alabama,

lead fluctuating between romney, santorum and gingrich. romney won wyoming and santorum kansas. we'll see you at the top of the hour. >> shep: alzheimer's not only affects those that are district of columbia with it but it changes the lives of partners in the role of full time caregivers. >> the golden years is when you can sit back, hopefully and exchange memories. that is the worst part about this disease. there is nobody who exchange memories with. nancy reagan called you almost immediately. >> that the first call we had. >> she wanted more to talk to you, lydia than she wanted to

talk to charles? >> of course. >> why? >> because she felt she had more to give me than she would have to give him. >> she said of our own experience with president reagan that the hard part is not being able to share memories together. did she tell you that? >> she didn't in so many words. i asked her, does he know you. she said, no. there was a loss in that no. late peter jennings from an abc special. of course, alzheimer's takes many forms. it's impossible for caretakers to prepare for an unknown road ahead. li zaf gibbons mother died of alleged. thank you so much. you say alzheimer's is a slow,

did death in slow motion? >> when you are watching when you love so much unravel memory by memory you have to come to grips with who you are and what is life all about. we are collective experiences, who we love and how we spend our time. when that is erased, it calls into question all of your beliefs about life and death. >> shep: when you found out your mother had alzheimer's, how did you process that in beginning? what was your primary feeling? >> this is nobody's happily ever. i am going to be best care giver to my mom or dad. its scratch in your domestic bliss or life track. i went through i denied it. i'm going to work hard and meet more people and i'm going to do more research and i'm going to

help find something to fix mom. i don't live my life in regrets, but i wish i had been more present earlier with my mom. she knew where she was headed. she saw me spinning and churning. she would put her head on the pillow every night with incredible courage having seen her mother disappear with the same disease. she walked that path with tremendous dignity. >> shep: your book is called "take your oxygen first." help us understand what that means? >> before you assist other people, just like an airplane, take your oxygen first. you you like first responders, everybody is running, caregivers has to go toward the problems. these are the sons and daughters of husbands and wives and friends that show up for judy.

they don't get thanks or validation. they don't know if they are making it better. there is a lot of guilt. a lot of resentment. a lot of dashed hopes and feelings of hopelessness. so this is i think the most difficult of care giving challenges. i think it's a noble pursuit for all chronic illness and disease. for alzheimer's you have to make sure you nourish yourself, mind, body, soul and spirit because you are the hinge for all of it. if the caregiver unravels the en family can depleat. >> shep: i watched glen campbell on stage, it feels like it takes enormous courage. is that courage to get out there and open yourself up to that? >> what i love about glen and his wife, they take it one day

at a time. that is really all we can do. they stay focused on what is possible. when you see glen take that stage, because our emotional dna is so tied to music, he is most comfortable i would assume there performing. that goes way back into the deepest depth of his memory and his core. that takes over. i saw the same thing with my mom when she would sing songs from her girl hood. it's really beautiful. >> shep: leeza gibbons, thank you so much. >> it can be difficult to discuss, embarrassing and shocking and abrupt. one way you are living a perfectly normal life and next, your partner is gone, replaced by sits and walks next to you like always but having no idea

who you are. >> he still goes to mass every day and believe it or not he still remembers the hail mary but he doesn't remember me. i would be lying, that still makes me cry, but even so in the past six years i have gone from hopelessness to hope. >> shep: maria shriver's father suffered from alleged. how she dealt with diagnosis,

>> shep: living with her father's alzheimer's changed maria shriver's world but all she knows to go at 110%. to process the whole idea that your father had this disease. how did you get through the early days? >> well, i think i referred to alzheimer's as mind-blowing disease because it blows the mind that is digd with it but the entire family surrounding the loved one. the way when i first heard he was diagnosed with alzheimer's. you go through a whole series of emotions and people go through it in different ways. spouse has their journey, a child has their journey through it. i decided to write a children's

book about it. to explain it to my siblings and our whole family. that helped me and also catapulted me into the world of advocacy for alzheimer's. >> shep: what do you say to families to help them get through it? >> there is a lot of hope out there. there is a lot of support out there. when my dad was diagnosed in 2003 there wasn't. very few people came up to me in 2004 when the book came out. i wanted to do a television special but no one would touch it. we're living a very different world. people know a lot more about it. there is lot more support groups. people are more savvy about it. we finally has a president that put it front and center. we are living in a different

world. in world of alzheimer's is changing monthly now. more and more people are being diagnosed. more and more people care giving help. so i tell people there is a lot of hope and support and people want to bring you into the family and help you on the journey. >> shep: i know it changes your family and i understand that watching your children with your father gave you some insight, what was it? >> they were much more patient. they were much more realistic. they were much more in the moment. when my dad would say to them, what is your name, who are you? what is this when he would pick up a fork, they found a way of making light of it. for me, as i remember my dad as the smartest man i had never seen, it was difficult for me to realize he didn't know who i was or he didn't know what a fork was.

i tried to follow my children. my brothers and i took it as a learning situation for me to get more in the moment, for me to be more accepting and more understanding and bring the message of alzheimer's to a larger public which i've tried to do. >> shep: i have spoken with friends that deal with the situation. they learned more about themselves and their families than they thought they would be able to. things they never knew, about the way they interact. has that happened to you? >> oh, yes. it happened, one thing, i have four brothers. one thing we did really well. we instituted a monthly phone call with the five of us. every month we would get on the phone and as my father got sicker, it moved up to three times a month. every two weeks, we talked about

how we felt about it. we talked about who was in charge of his care, what were the medications, who was on deck what was the procedures, we talked about everything. so when it got towards the end, we were really in a rhythm we had started when my mom got sick. i think that was a really great thing that we did. i think it's something that other people told me, when i talked about it, they instituted and it helped them. so often the siblings communicate with other siblings through their parents. so you are having to deal with siblings and all sorts of things coming out and you are dealing with a difficult situation. the sooner you can talk to your siblings, about money, living wills, about clinic trials, who is watching your mother or father, who is physically closest. who wants to quarterback their

medical care, the better you are as a family. >> shep: the shriver report is one direction. what can we learn from your findings? >> the shriver report focused on women and alzheimer's, they are primary caretakers and they are being diagnosed at a higher rate than men. we have millions of women, they are raising children and they are caring for loved ones with alzheimer's. so i was trying to say, women are under siege in this society that we live in business and government and families need to understand how they are being pulled in so many different directions and supported them whether it's hours, or caretaker tax credits, raising the bar in terms of funding. political leaders need to know they will be elected by the female vote in this country.

women need support whether in terms of child care or parent care or flexible hours in terms of how they work in society. it seems that nobody was talking about that. shriver report tried to put that front center. we did the alzheimer's project on hbo that was a four part series. looking at the science and care giving and diagnosis of alzheimer's. >> shep: you have a website with people that are dealing with alzheimer's. what is it that you hope people take away from the website? >> what i discovered, is that people want to tell their stories. they want a place to feel at home, to feel there is someplace they can tell their stories and others will understand it. that is something that people will loved ones who are diagnosed with alzheimer's have in common with everybody, everybody has a story and there aren't a lot of people who are interested in hearing how poetry

and art may have loved one with arldz alzheimer's. how angry you are that they got alzheimer's. how you can't find the right clinical trial. why doesn't political leaders talk about alzheimer's. why don't we have more money? there is a need to tell the story. there is a comfort. i'm hoping that i can be a resource to people at all different levels of alzheimer's. i hope i can be a map, help people navigate their way through this disease, as one doctor said to me, once you have seen one case of alzheimer's, you have seen one case of alzheimer's. everyone's journey is different. i am hoping i can be a guide for others who are dealing with this situation. >> shep: maria shriver, thank you. >> thank you. >> shep: next, joe biden on why the obama administration is

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incredible career. in five decades he has worked from everyone to elvis presley to the beach boys and been included in the country music hall of fame. not bad one of 12 kids from arkansas. glen has been part of my life

and the life of memories of my generation. from 1967 hit by the time i get to phoenix to ghost on the canvas. now, he is inspiring us in a different way. by telling his story. glen and kim are reminding all those people that are caring for loved ones around the country that they aren't alone. for every story like glen's millions of families across the country are facing the same question. when should i stop driving? can mom move back in with us? what do i do if dad doesn't recognize me? these are the hardest struggle a family can ever face. that is why our administration is working so hard to find a cure for this disease. last year the president signed a national alzheimer's project act to create a council of experts of developing a national plan to fight alzheimer's. last week we announced that the

national institute of health is going to immediately devote an additional $50 million to alzheimer's research by pinpointing the genes that put people at risk. next year we are proposing alzheimer's funding by another $80 million because we want scientists to have the tools they need to fight this devastating disease. as glen finishes out his final tour, our prayers are with him and his family and every family facing this disease. i promise you, i promise you, we will keep fighting to make alzheimer's a think of the past -- a thing of the past and i believe we will cure this disease. >> we want to thank glen campbell and his wife for taking his fight on alzheimer's on the road and by allowing us to look into their private battle with this terrible disease.

i'm shepard smith, good night. >> thank you all. $30 a month. with 4 gigabytes, you could send and receive over 400,000 emails. or stream over 1,100 songs. or use gps navigation for 34 continuous days. all the data you need to power your favorite apps. 4 gigabytes for $30. only on america's largest 4g lte network. now buy one samsung stratosphere for $99.99, get another one free. verizon.