Battling Alzheimer

I am interrupting my series of posts on organization to share this important information from the Alzheimer’s Association. My hope is that it will help to put things into perspective as you battle the (now growing) monster, Alzheimer’s disease.

Dear Loretta,

I’m writing to you today with an urgent message. I wanted you to be among the first to know this news because of your interest in our goal of a world without Alzheimer’s disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics today reported that Alzheimer’s disease has surpassed diabetes as a leading cause of death. Alzheimer’s is now the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. With our nation facing an unprecedented population shift of aging baby boomers, and Alzheimer’s poised to strike 10 million of them, it is clear this escalating epidemic must be addressed now with your help.

Please forward this e-mail to friends and family who want to be counted as Champions in the cause to end Alzheimer’s.

The personal and economic impact of Alzheimer’s will require all levels of government and the private sector working together to accelerate research. Write Congress today and tell your legislators to increase federal Alzheimer research funding and support crucial clinical trials.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the oldest and largest organization dedicated to Alzheimer research, care and support. Your generous support will help us achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s.

Sincerely,
Angela Geiger
National Vice President
Alzheimer’s Association

P.S. Every 71 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer’s. We can slow the pace of this epidemic now with your help.

Good or bad, I would not consider myself as a political activist. However, if anything (other than the nail-biting race between Hillary and Barack) would get me engaged in the process, it’s Alzheimer’s disease. Nothing would make me happier than for Alzheimer’s disease to fall from sixth leading cause of death to like the 50th leading cause of death. But it’s not going to just happen…I’d love to have to write about something else because there just aren’t enough people with Alzheimer’s disease. But for now, the numbers are what they are. We need more research, we need more resources. We need a cure, but even more than all of those things, we need prevention. In the meantime though, let’s support the Alzheimer’s Association and other organizations that are working to support the people who are battling this disease.