Dog inspires grandfather to remember speech

US man Charles Sasser has been losing his memory since he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's about five years ago and in the last six months he has almost completely lost the ability to speak.

The grandfather of Albuquerque, New Mexico, struggles to form complete sentences and only speaks with a word here or there.

But that was until one unexpected encounter with a family pet.

His daughter, Lisa Abeyta, filmed with fascination last week as her dad spent almost an hour petting their dog Roscoe and affectionately telling the dog: "Why don't I take care? I'll take you, and you take me."

She uploaded the moving rare moment online and within two days the video has touched more than 1.3 million people who have watched it.

Ms Abeyta says she has received emails from people around the world sharing their experiences with the "cruel disease".

"I had no idea the video would touch so many people or be shared so many times.

"The comments and emails – for the most part – have been a wonderfully moving procession of individuals sharing their own journey through Alzheimer's or dementia."

She said the video was a "tribute" to her father "and the celebration of a beautiful moment within a tremendously difficult journey my mother and father are facing".

Source: Mama CEO.