Alzheimer's Awareness & Celebrities Associated with Alzheimer's

New Etsy store for dementia printables.

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It’s all about Alzheimer’s Awareness and celebrities with Alzheimer’s this month. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month so it’s a perfect time for some eye-opening information.

Alzheimer's Association donation

Recently, at the company I work for, we had a picture taken of a large donation that we were giving to a local organization. The money was a result of the employees giving $2.00 each Friday to wear jeans.

When we have a significant amount built up, we vote on what local organization should receive the money.

On this day we were donating to our local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. You see, 2 of us had mothers that had passed away from this nasty, insidious disease. You can read about my mom’s story here.

the longest day

Along with June being Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Association uses the month to promote its The Longest Day campaign to raise funds. Particularly, the date of the summer solstice.

June 20 is the longest day of this year, 2021. It is the day with the most light. This day is used “to raise funds and awareness for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.” Using the day with the most light to fight against the darkness of Alzheimer’s.

You can go here to find out more information about this day. People are encouraged to raise funds on that day doing some form of activity or take The Longest Day 16-Hour Challenge.

Alzheimer's Awareness

I created this infographic to show some notable people who have died from, had dementia, or currently have it. If you’re a baby boomer like me, you will recognize most of the names on the list. Some names are more from your parents’ era.

The relatively recent passings of Glen Campbell, Robin Williams, and Sean Connery have brought Alzheimer’s Awareness into prominence as has the announcement that zookeeper, Jack Hanna was retiring due to Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia

An estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2021

Of the total U. S. population, more than 1 in 9 people age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s dementia

Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the U. S.

Alzheimer’s is the 5th leading cause of death for those age 65 and older.

A new case of dementia arises somewhere in the world every 3 seconds

Dementia knows no social, economic, or ethnic boundaries

As I looked around, while we were waiting for the picture to be taken, almost every one of us held the name of someone we knew who either has Alzheimer’s or has died as a result of it.

Sad. 😢 Ask around. I bet you that almost everyone you talk to has someone in their family who has died of Alzheimer’s or knows of someone who has it.

The infographic above sadly has been updated (as of Feb, 2023) with a new name and the passing of a famous news icon. Well known actor Bruce Willis has been added to the list with a recent diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.