WORLD ALZHEIMER’S DAY: SEPTEMBER 21

WORLD ALZHEIMER’S DAY:

SEPTEMBER 21

World Alzheimer's Day, September 21st of each year, is a day on which Alzheimer's organizations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer's and dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, a group of disorders that impairs mental functioning.

Every 68 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer's disease. At current rates, experts believe the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s wills quadruple to as many as 16 million by the year 2050.

Alzheimer's disease is often called a family disease, because the chronic stress of watching a loved one slowly decline affects everyone. 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. With the increases in life spans and baby boomers coming of age, support for Alzheimer’s research is more critical to our families than ever.September 2012 marks the first global World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to raise awareness and challenge stigma.The theme for World Alzheimer's Month 2012 is Dementia: Living together.Alzheimer associations across the world will focus their activities on reducing the stigma associated with dementia and making communities more dementia-friendly by offering a range of programmes and events. Activities will include educational seminars, workshops and enjoyable social events for people with dementia and their carers. Memory Walks will take place in numerous countries with communities gathering to show their commitment to remembering those who they have lost and creating a society where people with dementia and their families can live without the fear of discrimination.

·         Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia among older adults. It involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language and can seriously affect a person's ability to carry out daily activities.

·         Although not a normal part of aging, the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease increases with age. Most individuals with Alzheimer's disease are over the age of 65. However, people younger than age 65 also can develop Alzheimer's disease.

·         Scientists do not know what causes Alzheimer's disease, but it is believed that it is similar to other chronic conditions and develops as a result of multiple factors rather than a single cause.

·         According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 18 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease. By 2025, this estimate is projected to grow to 34 million people, with the highest increase expected among developing countries.

·         It is currently estimated that approximately 2.6 million to 5.2 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, depending upon the approach used for identifying individuals with dementia.

·         If no cure is developed and present population trends continue, as many as 16 million individuals may have Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050.

·         Alzheimer's disease ranks as the 6th leading cause of death among adults aged 18 years and older, and is the 5th leading cause of death for adults aged 65 years and older.

·         For people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, the total payments for health care, long-term care, and hospice are projected to increase from $183 billion in 2011 to $1.1 trillion in 2050 (in 2011 U.S. dollars).

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·         Prof. John Kurakar