Partnering with Team USA and supporting those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease (AD)

Nick Mayhugh

Four-Time U.S. Paralympic Medalist—Para Track and Field

Nick Mayhugh is a celebrated U.S. Paralympian who won 3 gold medals and 1 silver competing for Team USA at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. One of his biggest inspirations is his Grandpa Bill, who sadly passed away due to complications of AD in 2018. This personal connection is why Nick wanted to partner with Lilly to spread awareness about memory and thinking issues that may be more than normal aging.

His Grandpa Bill was pivotal in Nick's upbringing, as Nick would often spend time at his house after school. Nick recalls being one of the first to notice some of his grandfather's earlier signs and symptoms of AD, but when he would tell his family members, it would get passed off as normal aging. Eventually, it became clear to the family that Bill was deteriorating, and he was ultimately diagnosed with AD. This experience of having symptoms of a disease initially downplayed was similar to Nick's own experience living with a mild form of cerebral palsy. Growing up, Nick felt something might be off, but he was often told what he was experiencing was normal. This would continue until he was formally diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age 14.

Nick encourages people who might be experiencing early signs of memory and thinking issues to talk to their doctor to determine the best next step. This could lead to a potential diagnosis and exploration of treatments that may help. Because—like sprinting—when it comes to acting on your memory and thinking issues, every moment counts.

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This is a paid partnership between Lilly and Nick Mayhugh.