Today is World Alzheimer's Day, and instead of the usual RAH, RAH, RAH - Wear purple today and raise money type of blog, I had a slightly different take on the day. I invite you to log onto the home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - and read it. Please post comments and suggestions here.
I did not understand what AD was until we were faced with it this year. I to was one of the ones who thought it was only old people who got it. So many of us need to pass on what we have learned. I still keep reading that the early onset is still very rare. But this year I have learned of 4 other people who have it. Is it rare? Like Vickie's post above, Well said! Thank you, Joan!
Dear Joan....as a person with dementia I want to thank you so much for...Dispelling the myths of Alzheimer's Disease. I want to commend you on the helpful information and hard work you so lovingly put into this site. From the bottom of my heart.....Thank You, for caring and helping all who view this site and express to you the appreciation we have for YOU and all you do.
Joang, I attended the ceremonies for the Breakthrough Ride at Senate Park in DC on World Alzheimers Awareness Day. It was an absolutely beautiful day in DC for this event. I was amazed to see this group of riders enter the park, so proud of what they had accomplished which was obvious by thier big bright smiles. As a volunteer I proudly stood on the risers with the riders during the ceremony and my card that represented one picture out of the millions of people that are affected by this disease. 115,000+ signatures were gathered for the petition to congress to make Alzheimers a national priority and was to be presented today. Thank you to all the Riders, the Alzheimers Staff, Celebrities and to the Volunteers from the Maryland Chapters to make this event a memorable experience for me and I hope others as well!
I have just read the "World Alzheimer Report 2010". It paints a rather bleak picture for the next 40 years unless the funding for research is greatly increased. The US government has not responded to this crisis:
"Given the magnitude and the impact of Alzheimer's, the U.S. federal government's response to this crisis has been stunningly neglectful," Johns added.
If you want to read the "Executive Summary" of the report go to: www.alz.co.uk/research/files/WorldAlzheimerReport2010ExecutiveSummary.pdf