Newswise — ATLANTA - (August 15, 2012) - Golden Globe® and Emmy® award winning actor Kelsey Grammer, star of the critically acclaimed STARZ Original series "Boss," recently completed two public service announcements for the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA).
Grammer portrays fictional Chicago Mayor Tom Kane, who last season was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (LBD), the second most common form of progressive dementia. More than 1.3 million Americans have been diagnosed with the disease, which affects almost everything about a person, including thinking, movement, and behavior. The disease also affects sleep and automated systems such as blood pressure and digestion; people with LBD can have severe medication sensitivities, especially certain tranquillizers. Early diagnosis is critical and often involves a specialist, because some LBD symptoms resemble Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. People with LBD experience changes in memory or thinking that disrupt normal activities, plus varying combinations of other symptoms, such as slowness of movement, hallucinations, or disturbed sleep, such as physically acting out their dreams.
The two PSA's, :35 and a :95 second clips, hope to raise awareness and support for LBD. Early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment can significantly improve quality of life for people with LBD.
Watch and share the LBDA PSA (:35 SECOND VERSION)http://www.starz.com/originals/Boss/Videos#/lewy-body-dementia-shortened
Watch and share the LBDA PSA (:95 SECOND VERSION)http://www.starz.com/originals/Boss/Videos#/lewy-body-dementia-full
"Public awareness of Lewy body dementia is vital to improve the rate of early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and optimum quality of life for LBD patients and their families," said Angela Herron, President of LBDA's Board of Directors. "Our goal is to reach families who may be dealing with LBD but who don't have a diagnosis yet. This public service announcement is a landmark step forward for this disease."
The collaboration between Grammer, Starz Entertainment and the Lewy Body Dementia Association underscores the critical need for early diagnosis and increased public awareness of this important health condition.
The STARZ Original Series "Boss" is set to premiere its second season on Friday, August 17th at 9pm ET/PT. Starring Kelsey Grammer in his Golden Globe®- winning role as fictional Chicago Mayor Tom Kane, the series also stars Connie Nielsen, Hannah Ware, Jeff Hephner, Kathleen Robertson, Troy Garity and Rotimi. Produced by Lionsgate, "Boss" earned a Golden Globe® nomination for Best Drama Series for its debut season and is currently shooting season two in Chicago. Joining the ensemble cast as series regulars this season are Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, "Glee"), Sanaa Lathan ("Nip/Tuck," A Raisin in the Sun), and Tip "T.I." Harris.
In season two of "Boss," Kane ferociously beats back the physical symptoms of his illness with high doses of medication. But this comes at a cost -- experiencing heightened psychological manifestations of the disease. Without his longtime advisors Ezra Stone and Kitty O'Neil, Kane is also forced to reconfigure his inner circle. Surrounded by strangers and without much time left, he acts quickly to protect and repair his legacy by cutting out the cancers within the political machine. But as corrupt heads roll and his list of enemies grows, Kane's virtuous actions begin to erode the very foundation of power he's worked a lifetime to build. In order to maintain it, Kane must govern as he always has-ruthlessly.
To learn more about LBD or find support, visit the Lewy Body Dementia Association at www.lbda.org.
To obtain the PSA for network or website play please contact Elizabeth Patrick, [email protected], 404-935-6444 ext. 101.
The Lewy Body Dementia Association The Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the Lewy body dementias (LBD), supporting patients, their families and caregivers, and promoting scientific advances. Through outreach, education and research, LBDA supports those affected by Lewy body dementias. To learn more about LBD and LBDA please visit www.lbda.org. About Starz Entertainment
Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie and original programming entertainment service provider operating in the United States. The company offers 17 premium channels including the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® brands with approximately 20.7 million and 34.2 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs in total more than 1,000 movies and original series every month across its pay TV channels. Starz Entertainment is recognized as a pay TV leader in providing HD, On Demand, HD On Demand and online advanced services for its STARZ, ENCORE and MOVIEPLEX brands. Starz Entertainment (www.starz.com) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LMCA).
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