Growing up, Northwestern student Victoria Da Conceicao looked to her grandmother for inspiration. But she had to face a difficult reality as her grandmother’s sharp mind began to soften. After doing research as to what could slow Alzheimer’s disease, her grandmother’s diagnosis, Da Conceicao founded Alzheimer’s Brain Box, based on the custom care packages she made for her grandmother.
The box includes items like puzzles, essential oils and coloring books that help stimulate both memory and brain activity. Stimulating different senses has been proven to provoke different areas of the mind, some of which might be used less often.
Da Conceicao recounts her feelings in starting the company, where she is now able to help her grandmother as well as others with Alzheimer’s.
“I knew I had to be brave for her, so I never let her see how scared I was. Once I decided to create the company, I had an outlet for my concerns. I poured my heart into my work and over time, my fears lessened, and I found solace in refining my products.”
Da Conceicao credits Northwestern for aiding her in her success, stating,
“I’m so fortunate to be at Northwestern, in this collaborative environment where people work across schools and disciplines to actually help each other. In fact, I’ve found several partners among my fellow students who’ve brought diverse skills to help make the company go.”
See more about the Brain Box in Northwestern Now’s article She’s taking the fight to Alzheimer’s disease.