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President Obama Says the “A” Word: Alzheimer’s

Posted on February 15, 2013

President Obama Says the “A” Word: Alzheimer’s.

Lest you think that Alzheimer’s has nothing to do with you, look at the following statistics provided by the Alzheimer’s Association:

• By the year 2050, nearly one million new cases will be diagnosed each year – that’s one American developing Alzheimer’s every 33 seconds.  Taken further, that most likely equates to nearly one and a half million new family caregivers each year – considering that at least one family member will be involved in managing a loved one’s care;
• Ten million Baby Boomers will get Alzheimer’s;
• On average, 40% of a person’s years with Alzheimer’s are spent in the most severe stage of the disease;
• The number of Americans that die each year from Alzheimer’s disease has risen 66% since the year 2000;
• Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States;
• Today, there are no Alzheimer’s survivors – none.

Please take time to read the article I’ve attached above and consider the following: We are going to pay for Alzheimer’s one way or the other – now, or later.

This is a disease that will affect you, your children, your grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and beyond.  Burying our heads in the sand won’t solve anything.  Please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association as well as contacting your state’s congressional leaders asking for greater federal funding for Alzheimer’s research.  Why?  Because of this staggering statistic:

According to the National Institute of Health, the federal government currently spends much less money on Alzheimer’s research, prevention, and cure than on other conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and HIV.

• $6 billion for cancer;
• $4 billion for heart disease;
• $3 billion for HIV/AIDS; but just
• $480 million for Alzheimer’s disease.

I’m not comfortable with those numbers – are you?