Alzheimer patients and researchers are being paired together in order to further the research being done on the mentally debilitating disease. Patients in the early stages of the disease are given an opportunity to focus on new relationships that take their focus off of the illness, while researchers get the opportunity to put a face with their studies.

Scientist Sarah Cole of her 68-year old patient and newfound friend, "We don't really worry about what she can't do. We just worry about what she can do."

The program is sponsored by Northwestern University and will be featured at an Alzheimer's Association Conference being held later this week.

Universities around the Chicago area are looking to copy the program in the hopes of furthering research on the early stages of the disease.