GIFT OF LOVE

A GROUP OF NUNS ARE DONATING THEIR BRAINS TO SCIENCE TO HELP FIGHT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Even as she sped past her 100th year, Sister Mary projected the energy and enthusiasm of a much younger woman. With the aid of a magnifying glass, she kept abreast of national affairs by reading newspapers and magazines. With the aid of a globe, she prayed for the women and children of the world, one continent at a time. In fact, so savvy did Sister Mary seem, so tuned in to her surroundings, that University of Kentucky epidemiologist David Snowdon began to think of her as a kind of gold standard for successful aging.

But when Sister Mary died--in 1995, three...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!