Seth Rogen delivered a serious message to the Senate on Wednesday: Alzheimer's needs more awareness and support, not only for those who suffer, but for their families as well.
Rogen attended a congressional hearing Wednesday to share a personal story of his family's struggle with the disease. His mother-in-law suffered early onset Alzheimer's, an illness that rendered her unable to speak, feed herself or use the bathroom on her own by the age of 60.
Several senators skipped Rogen's appearance, leading the Knocked Up actor to tweet-shame the legislators who didn't bother to show.
.@SenatorKirk pleasure meeting you. Why did you leave before my speech? Just curious.— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) February 26, 2014
All those empty seats are senators who are not prioritizing Alzheimer's. Unless more noise is made, it won't change. pic.twitter.com/xDW6tlMHmH— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) February 26, 2014
Rogen's speech was peppered with lighthearted remarks; it marked the first time the words "knocked up" were uttered in a congressional hearing, according to an amused committee chairman. But the statement was heartfelt.
"Unlike any of the other top 10 causes of death in America, there is no way to prevent, cure or even slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease," he said. He continued to speak about the shame and stigma associated with the disease, comparing it to how the world once treated cancer.
After learning about the disease firsthand, Rogen and his wife started Hilarity for Charity, an organization that helps families struggling with the disease and supports research efforts.
The entire two-hour hearing can be viewed on C-SPAN.