In between stacks of medical books in a small office in Starling-Loving Hall, can be found one of Ohio State’s truly remarkable faculty members of the past 40 years. Dr. Leopold Liss, and his overflowing treasure chest of wisdom has been striving to improve the quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease destroys memory, reason, judgment, language and the ability to carry out simple tasks. The most common symptom is short-term memory loss, but Alzheimer’s disease symptoms may vary from patient to patient.
According to the Alzheimer Association, more than 171,000 Ohioans suffer from the disease.
The most common risk factor of Alzheimer’s disease, which all individuals face, is advance aging. Memory disorder and dementia affect more than 20 percent of the population over the age of 65.
Liss, an OSU professor emeritus and a clinical professor of neurology, has been intensively studying a particular family for the past few years. Two years ago a patient from this family died. He died at the age of 39 and was the oldest member of his family to live with Alzheimer’s disease. The past six generations of this man’s family had Alzheimer’s disease and died between the ages of 30-38. In this family, the progression of dementia was very rapid, and the case study was an extremely rare finding.
When asked about his risk of Alzheimer’s disease, Liss said, “It is very difficult for me to say what my risk factor is because where I am from is not a place where people had a chance to live out their life expectancy.” His father was killed when he was arrested by the Soviets during an unstable time in history for Poland.
Liss is from southeast Poland, which is today the Ukraine. He came to the United States in 1951. He earned his medical degree after five years of studies from Heidleberg in Germany. Liss first became interested in studying Alzheimer’s disease in his early 30s.
“I became interested in studying this subject because Alzheimer’s disease was unappreciated by the general public and basically the medical profession at this time,” he said.
He came to the United States for medical training at the University of Michigan and proceeded with his studies for the next nine years.
In 1960, Liss came to OSU to further his studies on cognitive disorders. Since 1975, Liss has been exclusively focusing on Alzheimer’s disease.
In 1976, he started the Cognitive Disorder Clinic here at OSU. At this time, there were very few clinics designed to evaluate cognitive disorders associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
He was instrumental in the founding of the Alzheimer’s Association of Columbus. This association became the founding chapter of the National Alzheimer Association 33 years ago.
All of his energy is now devoted to the Initiative for Comprehensive Logistically Integrated Alzheimer Support System. This facility would have the ability to properly take care of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Liss claims that many of these services are not fully offering what his patients really need or recognizing the problems of this health care giant. Today, nearly 19 million Americans are caring for family members who have Alzheimer’s disease.
“Columbus is the ideal center for the Initiative for Comprehensive Logistically Integrated Alzheimer Support System due to the resources OSU has. We have architectural, medical and business administration resources right here on our own campus,” he said. He believes Columbus can be a worldwide leader in the care of Alzheimer’s patients.
However, without funding, the center remains just a dream for people working and living with Alzheimer’s disease. “Dreams become a reality when you have a bank account,” Liss said. He keeps notepads with the name of this center to keep focused on his dream.
“I have many accomplishments and published research, which is extremely rewarding, but by improving the quality of life for my patients and teaching others how to do this, is the most rewarding part of my job,” Liss said. He also feels accomplished by opening the Columbus Alzheimer Care Center and founding the Columbus Association of Alzheimer, yet he still sees more work to be done.
The Columbus Alzheimer Care Center’s major function is to educate and be a resource for those living with Alzheimer’s and their families. Liss has been hosting a support group for patients and their families for the past 10 years.
“You don’t find doctors like him everyday,” said Ginger Supplee, the director of nursing at the Columbus Alzheimer Care Center. Supplee has worked with Liss for the past seven and a half years. She said that Liss became a doctor to truly help people, and that is apparent when you see him with patients or with their family members.
One of Liss’s biggest fans is his wife of 52 years, Lucy. “It shows that he really loves his work,” she said.
According to Lucy Liss, “My loving husband shows the pleasure he gets from his work in every aspect of his life. He is constantly on the move and is always thinking of his patients.”
“He is a well-respected and accomplished doctor, who is a big inspiration to anyone that meets him,” said his granddaughter, Jessica.
Jessica Liss, a freshmen in international business, stressed the dedication of her grandfather’s work with Alzheimer’s disease and how important his patients and their families are to him. “My grandfather has helped so many people with Alzheimer’s disease, that he is not only a great doctor, but grandfather as well,” she said.
Leopold Liss’s favorite OSU memory is that of the late Woody Hayes, not as a coach, but as a human being. He first met Hayes while making rounds at the children’s hospital. A young couple was sitting with someone who Liss believed was a grandfather. Liss had just come to OSU and did not know who the legendary Woody Hayes was, but he did notice that everyone around was whispering. As it turned out, Hayes was there at a former player’s time of need, when his child was in surgery. There was no press or publicity at the hospital. From this observation, Liss had a great insight in the character of man.
“Woody Hayes was special… he used his fame for good causes, and he did it modestly because that was just his character,” Liss said.
Years later, Hayes worked with Liss in his fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Hayes was a keynote speaker at the Alzheimer Association annual benefit gala. This gala hosted by Hayes sold out immediately and was the Alzheimer Association’s first successful fundraiser.
“The most important thing I have learned from my patients is helping another human being is the most critical role we can have as human beings,” Liss said. “Sometimes I think to myself that my patients can teach society quite a few things we have lost.”
“People don’t realize what a resource my patients are and what we can all learn from them. What I have learned from my patients can not be taught at any university or medical school,” Liss said.
