For Alzheimer’s & Brain Health Awareness Month, the Global Family Enterprise Program’s Family Enterprise Entertainment (FEE) column turns to a powerful nonfiction read: The Inheritance by Niki Kapsambelis. This moving family biography traces the DeMoe family of North Dakota, many of whom carry a rare genetic mutation that causes early-onset Alzheimer’s.
While the book is a powerful portrait of love, courage, and scientific progress, it also resonates on a family enterprise level—exploring the emotional and practical challenges of succession planning, caregiving, and shared responsibility. As one generation faces cognitive decline, the next is asked to step into leadership, not only in their family but in the global fight to understand the disease.
The DeMoes’ story reminds us that in family enterprises, legacy is not just inherited—it’s stewarded, especially in the face of uncertainty.
As we observe Alzheimer’s & Brain Health Awareness Month, this is also a timely reminder that cognitive wellness should be part of any long-term planning conversation. While navigating someone’s cognitive status can be difficult and deeply personal, stories like The Inheritance show us just how important—and empowering—those conversations can be for both the enterprise and the individuals within it.
