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Memory Walk(R) Raises Awareness and Dollars to Fight Alzheimer's

CONCORD, N.H.-(Business Wire)-September 5, 2008 - The Alzheimer’s Association wants everyone to get involved and take steps to end Alzheimer’s by walking in Memory Walk^®. During September, thousands will be putting on their walking shoes to fight the disease that as yet has no cure. The Alzheimer’s Association is hoping for a record-breaking turnout across the state.

Walks take place on Saturday, September 20at the following locations:

Capital Area Walk ~ State House Lawn (Concord)

Monadnock Region Walk ~ Keene State College (Keene)

Seacoast Area Walk ~ 2 International Drive, Pease Tradeport (Portsmouth)

Southern NH Walk ~ Fisher Cats Stadium (Manchester)

The money raised from Memory Walk goes to research and programs that support those affected by the disease. Some of the programs funded by Memory Walk include:

24/7 Helpline – Experienced counselors assist people by telephone and online with all aspects of Alzheimer’s disease—from getting a diagnosis to finding support and services in the community. The Helpline number is 800-272-3900.
Research – Each year grants are made for cutting edge research into causes, treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s.
Medic Alert + Safe Return – The emergency program operates 24 hours a day to assist in locating people with Alzheimer’s who have wandered and become lost.
Support Groups – Alzheimer’s support groups are sensitive and helpful resources for those with the disease and their families.
Advocacy – The Alzheimer's Association advocates at the local, state and federal level to promote quality care and increase federal research funding.
Care Consultation –Counselors work one-on-one with families facing challenges in managing the disease.
Family Education – The latest information on research, the importance of diagnosis and treatment, legal issues, care planning and safety issues is offered at numerous locations across the state.

Every 71 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s. More than 5 million Americans have the disease, including 22,000 in New Hampshire. These numbers will grow dramatically in the coming years as the baby boom generation ages. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease of the brain for which there is no known cure. One in 10 people over 65 and nearly half of those over age 85 have Alzheimer’s disease. People with the disease live from 3 to 20 years after the onset of symptoms, making programs such as those offered by the Alzheimer's Association all that more important.

For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, and how to walk in or volunteer for Memory Walk, e-mail info@memorywalknh.org. Visit the New Hampshire Memory Walk web site at www.memorywalknh.org for more information about all four Memory Walks taking place in New Hampshire September 20, 2008.

The Alzheimer's Association, the world leader in Alzheimer’s disease research and support, is a voluntary health organization dedicated to finding preventions, treatments and eventually a cure. The organization’s mission 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.

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