Alzheimer's Association

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Alzheimer's Association
Motto: Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's.
Type: NPO
Founded: 1980
Website: http://www.alz.org

The Alzheimer's Association, incorporated on April 10, 1980 as the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc., is a non-profit American voluntary health organization which focuses on care, support and research for Alzheimer's disease.

Contents

[edit] Mission

The mission of the Alzheimer's Association is:

“ To eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.[1] ”

The vision of the Association is "a world without Alzheimer's disease."[1] Approximately 24 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer's,[2] including 5 million Americans.[3]

[edit] History

The Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association was incorporated on April 10, 1980. In that year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invested $13 million in Alzheimer research. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan designated the first National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Week. The Alzheimer's Association founded more chapters and started its own research program.

Since its founding, the Alzheimer’s Association, has been a catalyst and leader for a generation of advancements in Alzheimer research and care.

[edit] Programs and Services

The Alzheimer's Association offers a toll-free, 24/7 Helpline for Alzheimer information, referrals and support in multiple languages.

Community-based Alzheimer's Association chapters provide services to families and professionals, including information and referral, support groups, care consultation, education and safety services.

MedicAlert® + Safe Return® [1]is the Association's 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for individuals with Alzheimer’s or related dementia that wander or who have a medical emergency.

The Alzheimer's Association invests in Alzheimer research through a peer-reviewed research grants program. Since 1982, the Association has committed more than $220 million to best-of-field research proposals.

The Alzheimer's Association Green-Field Library [2]is the nation's largest library dedicated to Alzheimer's disease. The library provides a wide variety of free information services to the public.

Alzheimer’s Association CareSource™ [3]is an online suite of resources that help coordinate assistance, locate senior housing, receive customized care recommendations and enhance caregiving skills.

[edit] Events

[edit] Memory Walk®

The Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk® [Memory Walk]is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. Held annually over 600 communities across the country, this event calls on volunteers of all ages to become champions in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

[edit] Rita Hayworth Galas

The Alzheimer's Association Rita Hayworth Galas are held annually in New York City, Chicago and Dallas. Fundraising events, they are names for legendary film star Rita Hayworth[[4]], who had Alzheimer’s. The galas are hosted by Ms. Hayworth’s daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan.

[edit] Conferences

[edit] Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease

As a part of the Alzheimer’s Association research focus, the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) updates knowledge about dementia. Attended by an average 5,000 researchers, physicians and care providers from around the world, ICAD is the largest group of international leaders in Alzheimer research and care. ICAD plenary, symposia, oral and poster session topics include:

Genetics, epidemiology and risk factors Cellular and animal models Neuropathology of amyloid, tau, protein misfolding, lipid biochemistry, signal transduction and other disease mechanisms Early detection and diagnosis, neuroimaging and biomarkers Current interventions and future therapies Evidence-based approaches to care and support

[edit] Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Conference

The Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Conference provides learning opportunities for care professionals.

[edit] Publications

Alzheimer's & Dementia is the official publication of the Association, published since July 2005 by Elsevier for the dissemination of original research, comprehensive reviews, clinical trial results and other information related to Alzheimer's. This journal presents the latest original, peer-reviewed, basic and clinical research advances in the field, including early detection, prevention and treatment.

Alzheimer's Facts & Figures is an annual statistical abstract about Alzheimer's prevalence in the U.S.

[edit] Action

The Alzheimer's Association has established an action campaign at ActionAlz.org. Through the site, the Association encourages people to become "Champions" for others living with Alzheimer's disease. Champions receive periodic updates on actions they can take to assist in the Association's goal, and update on the Association's progress towards fulfilling its mission.

Actions that can be undertaken in the fight against Alzheimer's disease are broken down into categories: Voice, Open, Move and Act.

[edit] Voice

Participants are encouraged to talk about Alzheimer's by telling their story, or simply sharing their thoughts.[4]

[edit] Open

"Open your eyes" encourages participants to learn about Alzheimer's, and then encourage others to learn.[5]

[edit] Move

Participants are encouraged to help support the fight against Alzheimer's by volunteering or participating in the Association's Memory Walk.[6] Since 1989, the Alzheimer's Association annual Memory Walk has raised over $225 million to help those with Alzheimer's disease.[7]

[edit] Act

Participants are encouraged to write to Congress, move the Alzheimer's message, take action in the fight against Alzheimer's.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Alzheimer's Association. About Us. Accessed 10 July 2007.
  2. ^ Ferri CP, Prince M, Brayne C, et al (2005). "Global prevalence of dementia: a Delphi consensus study". Lancet 366 (9503): 2112–7. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67889-0. PMID 16360788. 
  3. ^ Alzheimer's Association. What is Alzheimer's?. Accessed 15 July 2007.
  4. ^ Voice ActionAlz.org. Accessed 15 July 2007.
  5. ^ Open ActionAlz.org. Accessed 15 July 2007.
  6. ^ Move ActionAlz.org. Accessed 15 July 2007.
  7. ^ Memory Walk Alz.org. Accessed 15 July 2007.

[edit] External links