New story: Investigating an Alzheimer’s mystery
November 1, 2025

Doug Whitney, 75, at his home in Port Orchard, Washington, USA, on Wed., March 12, 2025. Doug Whitney is the son of Mildred Reiswig, who died of early-onset Alzheimer's disease along with 9 of her 13 siblings. It was later discovered that the family carries a genetic mutation that makes them more likely to develop early-onset Alzheimer's, usually before the age of 53. Doug, a retired Navy mechanic, carries the mutation but has not developed symptoms of the disease. Because of this, Doug has been active in Alzheimer's research including volunteering for annual testing at Washington University in St. Louis. Doug's older brother Roger died of early-onset Alzheimer's but his other siblings have not developed symptoms. Doug's son carries the mutation, but in his early 50s has still not developed symptoms.

I’ve added a new story to my portfolio: Investigating an Alzheimer’s mystery.

The story, photographed on assignment in the spring of 2025, was commissioned by Matt McCann at the New York Times and written by Pam Belluck. The subject is Doug Whitney, a man who should have died from early-onset Alzheimer’s because of genetic susceptibility but somehow hasn’t developed any symptoms. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have been studying him for more than a decade looking for answers about the debilitating disease. 

Laser guidelines help researchers align a Doug Whitney, 75, in the scanner before a PET scan as part of annual Alzheimer's Disease research testing that Whitney undergoes at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on Tue., March 18, 2025. The mask hardens as it cools and helps hold the patient's head in place during the scan. This scan uses the MK-6240 radioactive tracer, which is used to visualize tau proteins in a patient's brain, a common indicator of Alzheimer's disease. Because of radioactive decay, the use of the tracer requires a precise timeline of medicine creation, injection, and scanning. Whitney carries the PSEN2 genetic mutation, which almost always leads to early-onset Alzheimer's disease and death by about age 55, as was the case with all members of his family who have inherited the genetic mutation. Whitney was identified as a so-called "escapee" in 2011 when it was discovered that he is one of three known such inheritors of the mutation who have not developed Alzheimer's and has taken part in a number of clinical research studies connected to WashU's Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network study, which includes annual visits to St. Louis for ongoing study.
Neurologist Joy Snider, MD PhD, (right) checks hand-eye coordination during a neurological and physical exam on Doug Whitney, 75, of Port Orchard, Wash., looking at vital signs, reflexes, peripheral vision, and other things, in the Memory and Aging Project suite in the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on Mon., March 17, 2025. Whitney carries the PSEN2 genetic mutation, which almost always leads to early-onset Alzheimer's disease and death by about age 55, as was the case with all members of his family who have inherited the genetic mutation. Whitney was identified as a so-called "escapee" in 2011 when it was discovered that he is one of three known such inheritors of the mutation who have not developed Alzheimer's and has taken part in a number of clinical research studies connected to WashU's Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network study, which includes annual visits to St. Louis for ongoing study.
Clinical research nurse Wendy Sigurdson (left) and research nurse coordinator Georgia Stubbs-Cucchi look at a blood plasma sample collected from Doug Whitney, 75, as part of annual Alzheimer's Disease research testing that Whitney undergoes at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on Tue., March 18, 2025. Whitney carries the PSEN2 genetic mutation, which almost always leads to early-onset Alzheimer's disease and death by about age 55, as was the case with all members of his family who have inherited the genetic mutation. Whitney was identified as a so-called "escapee" in 2011 when it was discovered that he is one of three known such inheritors of the mutation who have not developed Alzheimer's and has taken part in a number of clinical research studies connected to WashU's Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network study, which includes annual visits to St. Louis for ongoing study.
Doug Whitney, 75, and wife Ione Whitney, walk between appointments as part of annual Alzheimer's Disease research testing that Whitney undergoes at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on Tue., March 18, 2025. Whitney carries the PSEN2 genetic mutation, which almost always leads to early-onset Alzheimer's disease and death by about age 55, as was the case with all members of his family who have inherited the genetic mutation. Whitney was identified as a so-called "escapee" in 2011 when it was discovered that he is one of three known such inheritors of the mutation who have not developed Alzheimer's and has taken part in a number of clinical research studies connected to WashU's Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network study, which includes annual visits to St. Louis for ongoing study.
Nuclear medicine technologist Nick Dunn places a mask on Doug Whitney, 75, before Whitney has a PET scan as part of annual Alzheimer's Disease research testing that Whitney undergoes at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on Tue., March 18, 2025. This scan uses a radioactive C-11 tracer that allows researchers to visualize amyloid plaques, associated with Alzheimer's Disease, in PET scan brain images. A mask that hardens as it cools is used to hold his head in place. Whitney carries the PSEN2 genetic mutation, which almost always leads to early-onset Alzheimer's disease and death by about age 55, as was the case with all members of his family who have inherited the genetic mutation. Whitney was identified as a so-called "escapee" in 2011 when it was discovered that he is one of three known such inheritors of the mutation who have not developed Alzheimer's and has taken part in a number of clinical research studies connected to WashU's Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network study, which includes annual visits to St. Louis for ongoing study.
Doug, 75, (left) and Ione Whitney, 74, hold hands at their home in Port Orchard, Washington, USA, on Wed., March 12, 2025. Doug Whitney is the son of Mildred Reiswig, who died of early-onset Alzheimer's disease along with 9 of her 13 siblings. It was later discovered that the family carries a genetic mutation that makes them more likely to develop early-onset Alzheimer's, usually before the age of 53. Doug, a retired Navy mechanic, carries the mutation but has not developed symptoms of the disease. Because of this, Doug has been active in Alzheimer's research including volunteering for annual testing at Washington University in St. Louis. Doug's older brother Roger died of early-onset Alzheimer's but his other siblings have not developed symptoms. Doug's son carries the mutation, but in his early 50s has still not developed symptoms.
PET research technologist JulieAnna Hudson (standing) prepares Doug Whitney, 75, for a PET scan as part of annual Alzheimer's Disease research testing that Whitney undergoes at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on Tue., March 18, 2025. This scan uses the MK-6240 radioactive tracer, which is used to visualize tau proteins in a patient's brain, a common indicator of Alzheimer's disease. Because of radioactive decay, the use of the tracer requires a precise timeline of medicine creation, injection, and scanning. Whitney carries the PSEN2 genetic mutation, which almost always leads to early-onset Alzheimer's disease and death by about age 55, as was the case with all members of his family who have inherited the genetic mutation. Whitney was identified as a so-called "escapee" in 2011 when it was discovered that he is one of three known such inheritors of the mutation who have not developed Alzheimer's and has taken part in a number of clinical research studies connected to WashU's Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network study, which includes annual visits to St. Louis for ongoing study.
A photo of the fourteen Reiswig siblings, including Mildred (center row, second from left), the mother of Doug Whitney, now 75, at his home in Port Orchard, Washington, USA, on Wed., March 12, 2025. Doug Whitney is the son of Mildred Reiswig, who died of early-onset Alzheimer's disease along with 9 of her 13 siblings. It was later discovered that the family carries a genetic mutation that makes them more likely to develop early-onset Alzheimer's, usually before the age of 53. Doug, a retired Navy mechanic, carries the mutation but has not developed symptoms of the disease. Because of this, Doug has been active in Alzheimer's research including volunteering for annual testing at Washington University in St. Louis. Doug's older brother Roger died of early-onset Alzheimer's but his other siblings have not developed symptoms. Doug's son carries the mutation, but in his early 50s has still not developed symptoms.
Dr. Jorge Llibre-Guerra (left) speaks with Doug Whitney, 75, (blue plaid) and wife Ione Whitney, about recent updates to his research on Doug's brain at the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Washington University School of Medicine as part of annual Alzheimer's Disease research testing that Whitney undergoes in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on Tue., March 18, 2025. Llibre-Guerra is an Assistant Professor Neurology at Washington University's School of Medicine. Whitney carries the PSEN2 genetic mutation, which almost always leads to early-onset Alzheimer's disease and death by about age 55, as was the case with all members of his family who have inherited the genetic mutation. Whitney was identified as a so-called "escapee" in 2011 when it was discovered that he is one of three known such inheritors of the mutation who have not developed Alzheimer's and has taken part in a number of clinical research studies connected to WashU's Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network study, which includes annual visits to St. Louis for ongoing study.
Doug Whitney, 75, of Port Orchard, Wash., exits the machine after receiving a CAT scan and MRI scan at the Center for Clinical Imaging Research at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on Mon., March 17, 2025. The scans are some of the ways that researchers look at the physical structure of Whitney's brain, including buildup of amyloid plaques and tau proteins associated with Alzheimer's Disease symptoms. Whitney carries the PSEN2 genetic mutation, which almost always leads to early-onset Alzheimer's disease and death by about age 55, as was the case with all members of his family who have inherited the genetic mutation. Whitney was identified as a so-called "escapee" in 2011 when it was discovered that he is one of three known such inheritors of the mutation who have not developed Alzheimer's and has taken part in a number of clinical research studies connected to WashU's Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network study, which includes annual visits to St. Louis for ongoing study.
All content © 2005-2025 M. Scott Brauer