To: NATIONAL EDITORS
Contact: Katherine Kyle of the Alzheimer’s Association, +1-312- 335-5293, [email protected]
Join the Fight Against This Worldwide Epidemic on World Alzheimers Day, September 21st
CHICAGO,Sept. 21/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In honor of World Alzheimers Day, Sunday, September 21st, the Alzheimers Association is asking people across the globe to turn their attention to this disease and visit www.actionalz.orgto learn more and make a donation to support research and care service programs for those touched by the disease in the United States. For every dollar donated, the Alzheimers Associations national board of directors will match it dollar-for-dollar, up to $250,000.
“The number of people affected by Alzheimers is growing at an alarming rate, and the increasing financial and personal costs will have a devastating effect on the worlds economies, healthcare systems and families,” said Gerry Sampson, development chair of the Alzheimers Association National Board of Directors. “We must make the fight against Alzheimers a global priority. Its up to every one of us to learn more about the disease and join the fight.”
Currently there are more than 26 million people across the world living with Alzheimers and that number will quadruple by 2050. This means by mid-century more than 100 million people will be living with this degenerative disease that kills brain cells and eventually the person with the disease.
Did You Know
— Alzheimers disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
— 10 million American baby boomers will develop Alzheimers.
— There are approximately 5.2 million Americans living with
Alzheimers today and that number is expected to increase to
as many as 16 million by 2050.
— One out of eight people age 65 and older have Alzheimers and
nearly one out of every two over age 85 has it.
— Every 71 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimers
disease; by mid-century someone will develop Alzheimers
every 33 seconds.
— Odds are you know or are caring for someone with Alzheimers.
There are almost 10 million caregivers in the US.
— Initial symptoms include memory loss but as the disease
progresses and kills more of the brain, the brain is unable to
tell the body how to move, swallow or breathe.
— The plaques and tangles associated with the disease act as
weeds that literally choke the healthy brain tissue causing it
to die; Alzheimers brains actually shrink due to cell loss.
The Alzheimers Associations commitment to raising awareness and funds on World Alzheimers Day is part of an accelerating worldwide effort to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, or prevent it from developing, and fund programs and services for those touched by the disease, and fund programs and services for those touched by the disease.
About the Alzheimers Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimers disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimers. For more information, visit www.alz.org.
SOURCE Alzheimer’s Association
(c) 2008 U.S. Newswire. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
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