In 2020 my wife Diane — the woman to whom I owe everything — was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia.

In our hypercognitive society there may be no greater terror than loss of brain function.

The Diane Project is about overcoming our fears and improving our responses to cognitive disease in our communities and culture.

With research, reporting and a dash of utopian thinking, I’m doing my part to improve the situation for 11 million unpaid caregivers and their loved ones who live with cognitive loss.

I’m Aaron. I was a TV critic for the Kansas City Star and Primetimer. Diane had careers as a freelance writer, textbook editor and historian. At the time of her diagnosis, we were writing books and giving talks together.

As our world was slowly upended, we adapted: downsizing, moving, retiring, joining, asking, accepting, reading, running and above all, learning to give care. I’ve gathered a lot of string along the way, and look forward to spinning it into a newsletter that challenges, informs and uplifts.

The Diane Project will always be free to read. So go ahead, hit the Subscribe button. When you do, I’ll send you “What Every New Cognitive Caregiver Needs To Do.” It’s the guide I wish I had when we were starting on this journey.