Daughters Document Ex-Council Member’s Journey with Rare Form of Alzheimer’s
In the early 2000s, Lin Myszkowski was known as a relentless fighter for public education.
She made numerous appearances on CCX during that era (when it was known as 12 News) for issues such as trying to prevent school closures.
“This would destroy our community in many ways,” she said during a 2001 interview. “I can’t imagine what would happen to our property values. Who would want to move into Brooklyn Center if Garden City is closed?”
Lin Myszkowski, being interviewed about potential school closures in 2001.
Myszkowski’s daughter, Sophia, looks back at that time fondly.
“I think she felt very strongly that nobody was fighting for that area of the school district,” said Sophia Myszkowski. “And I think she’s always, maybe, she’s always been an advocate for the underdog.”
Myszkowski’s other daughter, Olivia, feels the same way.
“She will defend Brooklyn Center and champion it to the ends of the earth,” Olivia Myszkowski said of her mom.
Lin Myszkowski’s role as an advocate eventually led her to public service. She served a term on the Osseo School Board starting in 2006, followed by a stint on the Brooklyn Center City Council beginning in 2012.
Declining health
But that chapter came to an end in 2016 as symptoms of a rare disease started to emerge.
“Our mom was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), which is a rare variant of Alzheimer’s, in 2019,” said Olivia.
Unlike Alzheimer’s, which typically attacks memory first, PCA starts in the visual processing centers of the brain.
“And so the early symptoms of it are less like forgetting people’s names and more having trouble reading and understanding the visual world around you,” said Sophia.
Several years after the diagnosis, Sophia and Olivia decided to share their mom’s story with others.
Sophia and Olivia Myszkowski are directing a film about their mom, former Brooklyn Center Council Member Lin Myszkowski.
Sophia works professionally as a documentary producer, and Olivia works at the New York Times. Together, they wanted to use their professional skills to create a full-length documentary on their mom’s journey.
“We thought, can we make a documentary that is part preserving her legacy and all the things that she accomplished in her life, but is also shedding light on what is the day-to-day experience of a caregiver to somebody who has a condition like this,” said Sophia.
Their work involves capturing many private moments, which also highlight their father’s new role as a caregiver.
“I think watching my dad take on this role from partner and husband to caregiver, full-time care giver, has been incredibly inspiring,” said Sophia.
While her health continues to decline, there’s one thing Myszkowski hasn’t lost — her love of music.
“She can’t read music anymore, but she’s an amazing pianist and she’s still able to improvise,” Olivia said. “And if you put her in front of a keyboard, she’ll play something that sounds like it was professionally written.”
Creating the film requires a certain level of vulnerability. But with more than 7 million people in the U.S. living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, this documentary is the sisters’ way of showing solidarity with others who are also on this difficult journey.
“We thought, in telling her specific story, can we help other people feel less alone on this journey of caring for a family member who is declining in this way,” said Sophia.
Meanwhile, the Myszkowski sisters are currently crowdfunding and seeking final interviews to complete the documentary. They hope to finish sometime in late 2026.
