September 21 is World Alzheimer's Day

Alzheimer's Disease is a brain degenerative disease that affects 35 million people worldwide. And there is no cure. The number of cases will almost double every 20 years. At its current rate, it is expected that by 2050, Alzheimer's will affect 1 in 85 people worldwide.^[ref]

The chances of getting Alzheimer's increases with age. Every five years after the age of 65, the risk of acquiring the disease approximately doubles.^[ref]

The Interactive Brain Tour by the Alzheimer's Association is available in multiple languages and will explain how Alzheimer's affect the brain. You will learn the hallmark characteristics of Alzheimer's which includes the beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles.

HBO's Alzheimer Project has several good documentaries and supplemental films that you can watch online. They are very informative and will provide you with an understanding of Alzheimer's Disease.

In the United States alone, there are more than 5 million people affected by Alzheimer's disease. And it is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S. To raise awareness of this, a group of Alzheimer researchers had started riding their bicycles on July 17, 2010 from San Francisco.

They are riding across America collecting signatures for their petition to U.S. Congress to make the fight against Alzheimer's a national priority. Specifically. the petition calls Congress to ...

• Pass the National Alzheimer's Project Act.
• Pass the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act of 2009 that authorizes $2 billion in research funding for Alzheimer's disease.
• Pass the Health Outcomes Planning and Education for Alzheimer's Act
  

The petition can also be signed online here.

The riders plan to finish their 66-day journey at the steps on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. on September 21, 2010 where they will deliver the petition to Congress. The petition will have tens of thousands of signatures.

The date September 21 is significant. Because it is World Alzheimer's Day.

On that day, Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) will release the World Alzheimer Report on the state of Alzheimer's disease on our society. Last year's 2009 report and summary are available online as linked.

Every year on that day, Alzheimer Associations all over the world in various countries will put together events to raise awareness of Alzheimer's and dementia.

The "Memory Walk" by the Alzheimer's Association is one of the largest event to raise funds for Alzheimer care, support, and research. Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $300 million.

You can sign up for a 2010 Memory Walk event near you in the United States linked here or in the United Kingdom linked here. If you don't want to walk, you can make a donation to a walker.