Alzheimer's Blog:


Yesterday we recognized Sept. 21, World Alzheimer's Day with several important initiatives to address the global epidemic of Alzheimer's disease here in the United States.

Forty riders from the Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's Breakthrough RideSM cycled onto Capitol Hill, presenting a petition containing more than 110,000 signatures demanding that our elected officials make Alzheimer's a national priority.


With your support, we sent a message on behalf of all Americans affected by this disease: Alzheimer's can no longer be ignored. In a moving ceremony, Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association, promised that this message would be delivered to both Congress and the White House. Thank you for signing the petition! See photos from the event.

Yesterday also marked the release of the "World Alzheimer Report 2010: The Global Economic Impact of Dementia" by Alzheimer's Disease International, revealing the global costs of dementia care as a staggering $604 billion. This means if dementia care was a company, it would be the world's largest by annual revenue, exceeding both Wal-Mart ($414 billion) and Exxon Mobil ($311 billion). Read a summary of the Report and related news coverage.


Later in the afternoon, the Alzheimer's Association delivered the message of the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Ride in a special White House briefing on Alzheimer's disease. The meeting was a good first step from this Administration toward a real and sustained effort to lead the fight against Alzheimer's. Harry Johns, Alzheimer's Association president and CEO, and National Board Member Stephen Hume, Psy.D., an individual living with the disease, made presentations at the meeting, focusing on the urgent need for action. The Alzheimer's Association will continue to create and pursue every opportunity to impress upon the nation's

leaders the scale of this disaster, the necessity of a coordinated national Alzheimer strategy and the need for its swift implementation.

One of these core activities is the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA, S.3036/H.R.4689), legislation that would create a National Alzheimer's Project Office and an inter-agency Advisory Council responsible for developing a national plan to overcome the Alzheimer crisis. Take action today by asking your member of Congress to enact NAPA this year.

Thank you for your continued efforts — on World Alzheimer's Day, and every day — in support of the Alzheimer's Association and our vision of a world without Alzheimer's disease.

Sincerely,

Alzheimer's Association

P.S.
Tune in!
Watch Alzheimer's Association Celebrity Champions test their knowledge and earn cash to benefit the care, support and research efforts of the Association on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," airing this week. Check local listings for air times.

Here is a link if you would like to help me with my Alzheimer's Memory Walk
http://MemoryWalk2010.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=336218&u=336218-268736349&e=3655472672

And here is a film showing Dad as his Alzheimer's progressed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-dWlsgM9LA&feature=player_embedded

Here is a link if you would like to get my book http://www.amazon.com/Alzheimers-Caretakers-Journal-Marie-Fostino/dp/1596635622

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com