Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Alzheimer’s Association Using Celebrities to Draw
Attention to World Alzheimer’s Day
Celebrities vie for “Who Wears Purple Best?” title to
raise awareness of new global prevalence - vote today online
Sept.
21, 2009 – With 77 million American baby boomers reaching the age of
greatest risk, it is clear that the crisis of dementia and Alzheimer’s
cannot be ignored, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, which is
using celebrities and a public voting effort to highlight World
Alzheimer’s Day. By voting in “Who Wears Purple Best,” fans also become
Alzheimer’s Association Champions.
Doing their part, eight Alzheimer’s Association
celebrity Champions are having a friendly “Who Wears Purple Best?”
competition.
Bradley Cooper (“The Hangover”), Seth Rogen
(“Knocked-Up”), Soleil Moon Frye (“Punky Brewster”/Entrepreneur),
Natalie Morales (“TODAY”), Terrell Owens (Buffalo Bills), Melina
Kanakaredes (“CSI New York”), Elisabeth Hasselbeck (“The View”) and
David Hyde Pierce (“Frasier,” “Curtains”) are all vying for the title of
“Who Wears Purple Best?”
Fans can cast their vote here when polls open today through
Wednesday, September 30.
By voting, fans also become Alzheimer’s Association
Champions and can take action by learning more about Alzheimer’s
disease, becoming advocates, making donations. They can also share the
purple competition Web site with family and friends via e-mail, Facebook
and Twitter to campaign for their favorite Alzheimer’s Association
celebrity Champion.
“While I hope to be a favorite in the World
Alzheimer’s Day ‘Who Wears Purple Best?’ competition, my goal is for
people to learn more about Alzheimer’s and take action,” said Melina
Kanakaredes, actress and Alzheimer’s Association Champion.
“People do
not realize that Alzheimer’s is not old age. It is a progressive and
fatal disease and staggering amounts of people develop Alzheimer’s every
day.”
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World Alzheimer's Day -
Every September 21
Diagnosing Dementia: See It
Sooner
The theme for World Alzheimer's
Day 2009 is 'Diagnosing Dementia: See It Sooner'. Materials and
activities will focus on the importance of getting a diagnosis and
encouraging medical professionals to recognise the signs of the disease
in order for people to receive the treatment they need.
Every year on 21 September
Alzheimer associations across the globe unite to recognise World
Alzheimer's Day in many ways and 2009 is no exception with memory walks,
open days, lectures, training courses, entertainment and conferences
taking place internationally.
Read about planned events for World Alzheimer's Day 2009 around the
world.
We are grateful to the MetLife
Foundation for supporting World Alzheimer's Day 2009. We believe the
large numbers of people involved and the media coverage these events
will gain will make a real difference for people with dementia, their
families and carers worldwide.
ADI, supported by our member
associations around the world, launched the new Global Alzheimer's
Disease Charter on World Alzheimer's Day in 2008. You can read the
Charter and sign the petition to support it at
www.globalcharter.org.
Follow the links below for more
information on World Alzheimer's Day
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Events taking place for World Alzheimer's Day 2009
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Report on World Alzheimer's Day 2008
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Frequently asked questions
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Previous World Alzheimer's Day campaigns
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According to the
2009 World Alzheimer Report, newly released today from Alzheimer’s
Disease International (ADI), a London-based nonprofit, international
federation of 71 national Alzheimer organizations including the
Alzheimer’s Association, the number of people with Alzheimer’s or
another dementia, currently 35 million, is expected to nearly double
every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050.
"Today on World Alzheimer's Day, with 35 million
people worldwide and as many as 5.3 Americans living with Alzheimer's
disease, we should commit to focusing on Alzheimer's throughout the
year," said David Hyde Pierce, actor and Honorary Alzheimer Association
National Board Member.
"Our government should commit to making this a
health care priority, and the next step is to pass the Alzheimer's
Breakthrough Act."
Worldwide, the economic cost of dementia has been
estimated as $315 billion annually.
The total annual costs per person
with dementia have been estimated as $1,521 in a low income country,
rising to $4,588 in middle income countries, and $17,964 in high income
countries, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Left unchecked, dementia and Alzheimer’s will
impose enormous burdens on individuals, families, health care
infrastructures and the worldwide economy, says the news release from
the association..
“The number of people affected by Alzheimer’s is
growing at a rapid rate, and the increasing personal costs will have
significant impact on the world’s economies and health care systems. We
must make the fight against Alzheimer’s a priority here in the United
States and worldwide,” said Harry Johns, President and CEO of the
Alzheimer’s Association.
“Just like our celebrity Champions, we must take
action against Alzheimer’s now.”
More than 60 celebrities from entertainment, sports
and media are committed to being Alzheimer’s Association Champions and
encouraging people to help raise awareness and funds.The extensive
roster of celebrities includes Bradley Cooper, Soleil Moon Frye, Melina
Kanakaredes, Seth Rogen, Peter Gallagher, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Bryant
Gumbel, Olympia Dukakis, Terrell Owens, Kyle Chandler, David Hyde
Pierce, Victor Garber, Kyle Chandler and more.
What you can to do to help end Alzheimer's
On World Alzheimer's Day and throughout the year, you can take action in
the fight against this devastating disease:
Sign up and be counted as an Alzheimer Champion
Advocate on behalf of individuals and their families
Write Congress and tell lawmakers to increase Alzheimer research
funding
Donate today
Participate in Memory Walk by joining or forming a team
