Alzheimer's Association
Encyclopedia
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
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...

.

Mission

The mission of the Alzheimer's Association is:
The vision of the Association is "a world without Alzheimer's disease." Approximately 24 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer's, including 5 million Americans.

History

Jerome H. Stone founded the Alzheimer’s Association with the help of several family support groups after meeting with the National Institute on Aging in 1979. 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.

Programs and Services

The Alzheimer's Association offers a toll-free, 24/7 Helpline for Alzheimer information, referrals and support in multiple languages. It can be reached by calling 800-272-3900.

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 http://www.alz.org/we_can_help_medicalert_safereturn.asp is the Association's 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for individuals with Alzheimer’s or related dementia that wander (wandering (dementia)
Wandering (dementia)
Wandering, in persons with dementia, is a common behavior that can cause great risk for the person, and is often the major priority for caregivers. It is estimated to be the most common form disruption from people with dementia within institutions. Although it occurs in several types of...

) 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 http://www.alz.org/we_can_help_library_services.asp 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 http://www.alz.org/we_can_help_caresource.asp is an online suite of resources that help coordinate assistance, locate senior housing, receive customized care recommendations and enhance caregiving skills.

Walk to End Alzheimer's

The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer'sMemory Walk is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. Held year-round in all 50 states, this event calls on volunteers of all ages to become champions in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

Rita Hayworth Galas

The Alzheimer's Association Rita Hayworth Galas are held annually in New York City, Chicago and Dallas. Fundraising events, they are named for legendary film star Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...

, who had Alzheimer’s. The galas are hosted by Ms. Hayworth’s daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan.

A Night At Sardi's

Started in 1992 by Laurie Burrows Grad in memory of her father writer/ director/ Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...

 winner, Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows
Abe Burrows was a Tony and Pulitzer-winning American humorist, author, and director for radio and the stage.-Early years:...

 who died from Alzheimer's disease. An evening of entertainment with many television stars that has raised over 16 million dollars for the Los Angeles Alzheimer's Association. The benefit is chaired by Laurie Grad and her husband, Peter Grad, former executive vice president of 20th Century Fox Television.

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

Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Conference

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

Publications

Alzheimer's & Dementia is the official publication of the Association, published since July 2005 by Elsevier
Elsevier
Elsevier is a publishing company which publishes medical and scientific literature. It is a part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has operations in the United Kingdom, USA and elsewhere....

 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.

Action

The Alzheimer's Association has established an action campaign
Civil society campaign
A civil society campaign is one that is intended to mobilize public support and use democratic tools such as lobbying in order to instigate social change. Civil society campaigns can seek local, national or international objectives...

 at ActionAlz.org. Through the site, the Association encourages people to become "Champion
Champion
A champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...

s" for others living with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...

. 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.

Voice

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

Open

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

Move

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

Act

Participants are encouraged to write to Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

, move the Alzheimer's message, take action in the fight against Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's Champions

ActionAlz.org lists several people who have chosen to become "Champions" with the Alzheimer's Association. Some of the more notable Champions include:
  • Anthony Anderson
    Anthony Anderson
    Anthony Anderson is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He has starred in his own sitcom All About the Andersons, as well as the Fox sitcom The Bernie Mac Show during the fifth and final season of the show. He is also known for his leading roles in television dramas such as K-Ville, The...

    , actor
  • Wayne Brady
    Wayne Brady
    Wayne Alphonso Brady is an actor, singer, comedian and television personality, known for his work as a regular on the American version of the improvisational comedy television series Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and as the host of the daytime talk show The Wayne Brady Show...

    , actor & entertainer
  • Olympia Dukakis
    Olympia Dukakis
    Olympia Dukakis is an American actress. In 1987, she won an Academy Award, BAFTA, and a Golden Globe for her performance in Moonstruck...

    , actor
  • Dear Abby
    Dear Abby
    Dear Abby is the name of the advice column founded in 1956 by Pauline Phillips under the pen name Abigail Van Buren and carried on today by her daughter, Jeanne Phillips, who now owns the legal rights to the pen name....

    , columnist
  • Hector Elizondo
    Hector Elizondo
    Héctor Elizondo is an American actor. Elizondo's first major role was that of "God" in the play Steambath, for which he won an Obie Award...

    , actor
  • Vivica A. Fox
    Vivica A. Fox
    Vivica Anjanetta Fox is an American actress and television producer. She is best known for her roles in the films Independence Day, Set It Off, Soul Food, Why Do Fools Fall In Love,Kill Bill and Juwanna Mann....

    , actor
  • Soleil Moon Frye
    Soleil Moon Frye
    Soleil Moon Frye is an American actress, director and screenwriter. Frye is best known for her childhood role as the title character in sitcom Punky Brewster, and as Roxie King in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.-Early life:...

    , actor
  • Peter Gallagher
    Peter Gallagher
    Peter Killian Gallagher is an American actor, musician and writer. Since 1980, Gallagher has played many roles in numerous Hollywood films. He starred as Sandy Cohen in the television drama series The O.C. from 2003 to 2007...

    , actor
  • Victor Garber
    Victor Garber
    Victor Joseph Garber is a Canadian film, stage and television actor and singer. Garber is known for playing Jesus in Godspell, Jack Bristow in the television series Alias, Max in Lend Me a Tenor, and Thomas Andrews in James Cameron's Titanic.-Early life:Born in London, Ontario, Canada, Garber is...

    , actor
  • Leeza Gibbons
    Leeza Gibbons
    Leeza Kim Gibbons is an American talk show host. Gibbons is the host of her own radio show, Hollywood Confidential, part of the United Stations radio syndication company.-Early life:...

    , TV host
  • Lainie Kazan
    Lainie Kazan
    Lainie Kazan is an American actress and singer.-Personal life:Kazan was born Lanie Levine in Brooklyn, New York City, the daughter of a Russian Ashkenazi Jewish father who worked as a bookie and a Turkish Sephardic Jewish mother, Carole, whom Kazan has described as "neurotic, fragile and...

    , actor
  • Elizabeth Hasselbeck, TV host (The View)
  • Ricki Lake
    Ricki Lake
    Ricki Pamela Lake is an American actress, producer, and television host. She is best known for her starring role as Tracy Turnblad in the original Hairspray, her ground-breaking documentary film The Business of Being Born, and her talk show which was broadcasted internationally from...

    , actor & TV host
  • David Hyde Pierce
    David Hyde Pierce
    David Hyde Pierce is an American actor and comedian best known for playing psychiatrist Dr. Niles Crane on the NBC sitcom Frasier, for which he received many accolades including four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.-Early life:Pierce, the youngest of four siblings,...

    , actor
  • Terrell Owens
    Terrell Owens
    Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...

    , athlete
  • Molly Sims
    Molly Sims
    Molly Sims is an American model and actress. Sims is known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues and her role as Delinda Deline in the NBC drama Las Vegas. She is also an ambassador for Operation Smile...

    , model & actor
  • Jean Smart
    Jean Smart
    Jean E. Smart is an American film, television, and stage actress. She is known for her comedic roles, one of the best known being her role as Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the CBS sitcom Designing Women. She later gained critical acclaim for dramatic work, with her portrayal of Martha Logan on 24...

    , actor
  • Brent Spiner
    Brent Spiner
    Brent Jay Spiner is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the android Lieutenant Commander Data in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and four subsequent films. His portrayal of Data in Star Trek: First Contact and of Dr...

    , actor
  • Lea Thompson
    Lea Thompson
    Lea Katherine Thompson is an American actress and director. She is best known for her 1990s NBC situation comedy Caroline in the City and her portrayal of Lorraine Baines McFly, Marty McFly's mother, in the Back to the Future trilogy...

    , actor
  • Dick Van Dyke
    Dick Van Dyke
    Richard Wayne "Dick" Van Dyke is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer with a career spanning six decades. He is the older brother of Jerry Van Dyke, and father of Barry Van Dyke...

    , actor & entertainer

See also

  • Alzheimer's disease
    Alzheimer's disease
    Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...

  • Dementia
    Dementia
    Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...

  • Alzheimer Society of Canada
    Alzheimer Society of Canada
    The Alzheimer Society of Canada identifies, develops and facilitates national priorities that enable its members to effectively alleviate the personal and social consequences of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, as well as promotes research and leads the search for a cure...

    , based in Canada
  • Alzheimer Disease International
    Alzheimer Disease International
    Alzheimer Disease International , was founded in 1984 to help to fight Alzheimer's disease that was first diagnosed back in 1906. In the present, ADI has grown as an international organization that also runs the Alzheimer University to help volunteers and staff of other Alzheimer Associations to...

    , based in the United Kingdom
  • Alzheimer's Society
    Alzheimer's Society
    Alzheimer’s Society is a United Kingdom care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.It is a membership organisation, which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...

    , based in the United Kingdom
  • Alzheimer Society of Ontario
    Alzheimer Society of Ontario
    The Alzheimer Society of Ontario is a charitable organization working to alleviate the personal and social consequences of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and to promote research...

    , based in Ontario, Canada
  • National Institute on Aging
    National Institute on Aging
    The National Institute on Aging ' is a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health , located in Baltimore, Maryland.The NIA leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life...

    , a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  • Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
    Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
    The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease is a peer-reviewed medical journal published by IOS Press covering the etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, genetics, treatment, and psychology of Alzheimer's disease. The journal publishes research reports, reviews, short communications, hypotheses, book...

  • NINCDS-ADRDA Alzheimer's Criteria
    NINCDS-ADRDA Alzheimer's Criteria
    The NINCDS-ADRDA Alzheimer's Criteria were proposed in 1984 by the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association and are among the most used in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease...

  • Silver Alert
    Silver Alert
    A Silver Alert is a public notification system in the United States to broadcast information about missing persons - especially seniors with Alzheimer's Disease, dementia or other mental disabilities - in order to aid in their return....


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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