World Alzheimer’s Day, 21 September of each year, is a day on which Alzheimer’s organisations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Every 68 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is often called a family disease, because the chronic stress of watching a loved one slowly decline affects everyone. With the increases in life spans and baby boomers coming of age, support for Alzheimer’s research is more critical to our families than ever.
Facts about Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. It accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases.
Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. Up to 5 percent of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer’s (also known as younger-onset), which often appears when someone is in their 40s or 50s.
Alzheimer’s worsens over time. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years.
Alzheimer’s has no current cure, but treatments for symptoms are available and research continues.
Sources: Fishers Centre for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation and www.gov.za/speeches/world-alzheimers-day-
