Driven To A Cause

“In Lake Charles, opportunities for Alzheimer’s care are limited,” says Dub. “But patients can go to Houston Methodist for the superior care they need.”

That superior care will receive a boost with the establishment of the Susan and William Henning Jr. Neurodegenerative Research Endowment. The Hennings have witnessed the suffering of family and friends affected by the disease. To recognize their impactful gift, Houston Methodist will name the lobby within the Nantz National Alzheimer Center (NNAC) in memory of Dub’s parents, Lena and Bill Henning.

The generosity behind the Hennings’ gift echoes a tradition that runs four generations deep. “My great-grandfather was a Methodist circuit rider pastor in Sulphur, Louisiana. He instilled the spirit of giving for generations to come,” says Dub.

Dub and Susan say they have hope in the work underway at the NNAC, including nine active clinical trials for Alzheimer’s that aim to change the fate of patients through early detection and preventive treatments.

This new endowment will enable teams in the NNAC to investigate promising ideas, including discovery of inflammatory biomarkers and the role of proper sleep in Alzheimer’s development.

For the Hennings, who walk by faith, optimism is in order for future treatments of Alzheimer’s and related memory disorders. “Hope for a cure is what patients need to face the best possible prognosis,” says Susan.