Little Empty Boxes
Little Empty Boxes is a documentary film that (at the time of writing) is showing in select theatres around the US.
It’s a very moving film that follows filmmaker and NY Times bestseller Max Lugavere as he moves home to New York City to consult with top health experts into the origins of the neurodegenerative syndrome known as dementia.
This is a very personal journey for Max as his mother Kathy battled this illness. The film chronicles Kathy’s life as she battles dementia and Max’s attempts to do all he can to save her.
Who is Max Lugavere?
From 2005 to 2011, Max Lugavere worked as a television presenter on the cable network show Max and Jason: Still Up with Jason Silva.
In 2013, Max created Acting Disruptive, the first-ever television series for Tribeca Entertainment. The digital series took a look into the lives of famous actors who chose to devote themselves to causes and passions that shook up the status quo.
Jared Leto, Felicity Huffman, and Adam Goldberg are just some of the actors featured in the episodes, but behind the scenes of the series, Max was dealing with a personal issue that eventually led him on a journey towards his own cause.
In 2011, when on a relaxing summer vacation, his world was turned upside down when his mother couldn’t remember what year it was. At that moment, he knew his life would never be the same.
It turned out his mother was battling a mysterious form of dementia known as Lewy Body Dementia. This discovery led Max on a personal journey as he investigated the origins of the illness and a possible solution for slowing it down.
His story is told in the documentary Little Empty Boxes, which Max co-directed with Chris Newhard (Gilly and Keeves).
The official synopsis for the documentary reads:
“Once a strong and independent woman, Kathy Lugavere finds herself struggling with her memory. In a quest to find his mother the best care, Max Lugavere moves home to New York City and begins to consult with top health experts to investigate the origins of Dementia, a disease which now affects a staggering 55 million people globally.
The deeply personal film chronicles Kathy’s experience with Dementia as Max explores methods outside of prescription medication to slow her illness down. LITTLE EMPTY BOXES presents a raw perspective of Kathy’s journey and the hardships of being a caretaker as her son is willing to do anything to save his mother.”
In a personal statement, Max wrote:
“My world stopped in 2011 when, on what was supposed to be a relaxing summer vacation, my mother couldn’t recall what year it was. Pressing her, in disbelief, she struggled to find the answer and began to cry. That was the moment I knew our lives would never be the same. LITTLE EMPTY BOXES wasn’t a film I planned to make.
It crept in, claws out. Watching dementia cripple her life was excruciating, but within that pain bloomed a purpose. I had to do my best to understand this condition, not just for her, but for everyone facing the abyss of cognitive decline.
My film isn’t about medical pronouncements or miracle cures. It’s raw, messy, and deeply personal. It’s a plea for empathy, a tribute to my mom, and a love letter to the science of dementia prevention.
It is my hope that by sharing my mom’s story, we can illuminate the path not just to delaying, slowing, or even, possibly, preventing this condition, but to cherishing every fragile memory, every laugh, every “I love you” before the boxes become truly empty.
This film isn’t about endings; it’s about making the most of what remains, together.” (source)
What did Max Lugaveres do?
When his mother died in 2018, Max tried to understand why his mother had gotten dementia so young. She was 56 years old when he saw her slipping away.
After discovering Alzheimer’s was the most common form of dementia, he learned there were ways to prevent it from happening. One of these was linked to diet. He found that certain foods could promote better brain health and in the process prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s.
He included his findings in his book, Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life. In it, he lists some of the foods that can be recommended for better brain health. These include:
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Blueberries
- Dark chocolate
- Eggs
- Grass-fed beef
- Dark leafy greens
- Broccoli
- Wild salmon
- Almonds
Max went on to write another book – Genius Kitchen – and he also started The Genius Life podcast.
What is Max Lugavere doing now?
As well as hosting The Genius Life podcast, one of the top health and wellness podcasts in the US, he also contributes to The Rachael Ray Show, The Today Show, PBS’s Brief but Spectacular, and The Doctors, according to his bio.
Max also leads keynote talks and corporate seminars around the world, with a focus on relevant health and wellness topics.
Support
If you know somebody with dementia or if you think you may be suffering from the condition yourself, it’s important to find support. You can learn more at Alzheimers.gov.
If you are worried about dementia and would like to know how to prevent it, we can recommend Max’s books to you. There is plenty of other information online, including here, where prevention tips can be found.
Have you seen Little Empty Boxes? Could you relate to the documentary? Let us know in the comments below.