Alzheimer's Association Warns Disease Threatens to Reach Epidemic Proportions As Baby Boomers Age

Alzheimer's Association
Monday, 5 November 2001

Chicago — November is National Alzheimer's Disease Month and the Alzheimer's Association are warning that Alzheimer's is an equal opportunity disease; men and women from every race and walk of life are at risk of developing it. If a cure or prevention is not found soon, more than 14 million of today's baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's disease by the middle of this century.

"We are in a race against time as the baby boomer generation ages and enters the greatest period of risk for developing Alzheimer's disease," said Alan Stone, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association.

First described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1906, Alzheimer's disease (pronounced ALTS-hi-merz) is a fatal, progressive, degenerative disease. It attacks the brain, resulting in impaired memory, thinking and behavior, and it is the most common form of dementia. The disease usually begins gradually, causing a person to forget recent events and experience difficulty performing familiar tasks. The rate at which it progresses varies, but the symptoms eventually include confusion, personality and behavior changes and impaired judgment. Communication becomes difficult as the affected person struggles to find words, finish thoughts or follow directions.

At some point, people with the disease will require 24-hour care, including assistance with daily activities such as eating, grooming and toileting. Eventually they will become totally incapable of caring for themselves. People with Alzheimer's live an average of eight years but can live for 20 years or more from the onset of symptoms.

Today, four million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, which is equal to approximately the combined population of Wyoming, Idaho and Utah. Currently, one out of every 10 people over the age of 65 and nearly half of those over 85 has the disease.

The Alzheimer's Association is the premier source of information and support for the four million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. Through its national network of chapters, it offers a broad range of programs and services for people with the disease, their families and caregivers and represents their interests on Alzheimer-related issues before federal, state and local government and with health and long term care providers.

The largest private funder of Alzheimer research, the Alzheimer's Association has committed nearly $120 million toward research into the causes, treatment, prevention and cure of Alzheimer's.

For more information on Alzheimer's disease or the Alzheimer's Association, please visit the Alzheimer's Association Web site or call (800) 272-3900.

For more information, or to contact Alzheimer's Association, see their website at: www.alz.org