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by Burt Bollinger Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. It is a disease of the brain that causes a steady decline in memory. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, cells die in other regions of the brain. Eventually, the person with Alzheimer’s will need complete care. Even if the individual has no other serious illness, the loss of brain function itself will ultimately cause death. When President Reagan proclaimed National Alzheimer’s Disease Month in 1983, fewer than two million Americans had this mind-robbing disease. Today, that number has more than doubled to an estimated 4.5 million, and by 2050, up to 16 million people will likely have Alzheimer’s unless a cure or prevention is found. As the world leader in Alzheimer research and support, the Alzheimer’s Association serves those touched by the disease through a nationwide network of 81 chapters. In the Alzheimer’s Association’s St. Louis chapter service area, which includes 38 counties in eastern Missouri and western Illinois, an estimated 66,000 individuals have been diagnosed with the disease. The Alzheimer’s Association’s mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research and to enhance care and support for individuals, their families and caregivers. “Our programs and services are designed to help the increasing number of people in our area who are coping with this disease 24 hours a day, every day of the year,” says Joan D’Ambrose, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association, St. Louis Chapter. “We offer education and training for the public and health care professionals, as well as a 24-hour Helpline staffed with those who understand the disease and its impact, and who provide information about the disease, treatments, care strategies and community programs. We also sponsor support groups for individuals with Alzheimer’s, caregivers, children and other groups with special needs.” The Alzheimer’s Association also offers Safe Return™, a nationwide program that assists in the identification and safe, timely return of persons with Alzheimer’s who wander off, sometimes far from home, and become lost. In addition to optimizing quality of life for individuals and their families, the Alzheimer’s Association is also the largest private contributor in support of Alzheimer’s research. Since 1982, the association has granted nearly $136 million in research funds. “Although many things about Alzheimer’s remain a mystery, the research we support continues to bring us a better understanding of the disease, more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatments,” says D’Ambrose. “Almost all of what we know about Alzheimer’s we have learned in the past fifteen years. With continued funding, a world without Alzheimer’s is truly within reach.” The association is funded primarily through memorial tributes, donations, grants and special events. More than 67 percent of chapter revenue comes from individuals and the community. Each year, the association’s fundraiser, Memory Walk™, brings together volunteers to raise awareness and funds for local programs and services. This year, the St. Louis chapter expects to raise $405,000.Walks will be held at multiple sites, including Tower Grove Park, on Saturday, Sept. 18. If you would like to participate in Memory Walk, become an Alzheimer’s Association volunteer, or simply make a donation, please call 432-3422 or (800) 980-9080 or visit www.alzstl.org. |
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