For decades, the voice of Jim Nantz has been widely recognized as the top sportscaster of some of the greatest athletic events, documenting the wins and losses of sports elites from around the world. While Nantz regales audiences during interviews with the likes of Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali and Kobe Bryant, it’s sharing the story of his father, Jim Nantz Jr., who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1995, that has become closest to his heart.
It’s this story that brought Nantz to Augusta last November. More than 300 people filled Augusta Country Club’s ballroom to hear the three-time Emmy Award winner. In a setting that felt more like a conversation with an old friend, the CBS sportscaster shared stories from his illustrious career with a charmed audience.
The event was a fundraiser for Via Cognitive Health, formerly known as the Jud C. Hickey Center for Alzheimer’s Care. Via’s goal is to provide an option for early action after a diagnosis of dementia to help maximize quality of life, not only for the person living with the disease but for their care partners and family members. Via’s mission also extends to providing care and continuing education for older adults interested in improving brain health.
Earlier in the day, Nantz toured Via’s new facility, set to open in April as one of very few centers like it in the nation, and was able to see the impact the center is making in Augusta. The new 24,000-square-foot facility has been designed to facilitate a wide variety of programs in a non-clinical setting. Every space was thoughtfully created to allow Via’s members to maintain their dignity despite their diagnosis.
“There’s a lot of living to be done after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and we’re trying to break down that stigma,” explains Via Executive Director Jennifer Pennington. “It’s not just about the last years of life.”
The day-to-day living with the disease is one that Nantz knows all too well. He vividly recalls the moment his father received the diagnosis. “The doctor broke the news to me, and he didn’t pull any punches,” Nantz says. “My mother burst into tears. It was heartbreaking.”
For 13 years, the Nantz family walked alongside Nantz Jr., who received his diagnosis at 66, as he fought the disease. In his book, Always By My Side: A Father’s Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other, Nantz details his family’s journey, sharing the hardships that all caregivers face when their loved one receives an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
In 2008, Nantz’s father lost his battle with the disease. Three years later, the younger Nantz founded the Nantz National Alzheimer Center in partnership with Houston Methodist Hospital. He chose to partner with the hospital since his father’s medical team was located there. In tandem with starting the center, Nantz has traveled all around the country to raise awareness and funding for a cure, and he says that he is inspired by what Via is doing in Augusta.
“The work that is being done and will be done at this new facility is quite impressive,” he explains. “It will make an impact on the members, their families and the Augusta community.”
Studies show that individuals who remain isolated and in poor physical and mental health after a dementia diagnosis may be more likely to decline quicker and have a lower quality of life. Programs at Via include lectures, brain workouts, cognitive stimulation therapy, high and low intensity exercise, a brand new putting green and electives such as woodworking or music classes.
Via members undergo an initial cognitive screening then follow a specialized curriculum for mild to moderate dementia aimed to challenge their minds and body. The campus design includes a workshop, art studio, indoor walking track and gym, and lecture hall. “We want to make their journey better by choosing an active path with Via to help combat decline,” Pennington says.
It’s important to note that strides are being made with several new medications. The caveat, however, is those medications are only available to those in the very early stages of the disease, which is why Via, Nantz and many others are pushing for earlier screenings.
“We want cognitive screenings to become just as common as getting your blood pressure checked,” Pennington explains. “We want to encourage people to get their baseline early so you have something to compare it to.” And soon, members of the public will be able to go to Via Cognitive Health on Washington Road to get that screening.
As for a cure, Nantz is confident it will be found. “We are already starting to see breakthroughs in several areas,” he says. “The effort level to find a cure is a collaborative spirit.”
As for the five-time National Sportscaster of the Year’s yet-to-be-realized pursuits, Nantz says humbly, “I long for nothing, but I’m grateful for everything.”
From the National Institute on Aging website, signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia result when once-healthy neurons (nerve cells) in the brain stop working, lose connections with other brain cells, and die. While everyone loses some neurons as they age, people with dementia experience far greater loss.
The signs and symptoms can vary depending on the type and may include:
• Experiencing memory loss, poor judgment and confusion
• Difficulty speaking, understanding and expressing thoughts, or reading and writing
• Wandering and getting lost in a familiar neighborhood
• Trouble handling money responsibly and paying bills
• Repeating questions
• Using unusual words to refer to familiar objects
• Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks
• Losing interest in normal daily activities or events
• Hallucinating or experiencing delusions or paranoia
• Acting impulsively
• Not caring about other people’s feelings
• Losing balance and problems with movement
Seen in the April 2024 issue of Augusta magazine.
