To the Editor:

November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, a time to focus on the impact of Alzheimer’s in New Jersey and help family caregivers get the help that they need. With over 600,000 people in New Jersey touched by Alzheimer’s, this disease impacts us all! In New Jersey, 2 in 3 people (68 percent) now say they know someone with Alzheimer’s.

• Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly impacts memory thinking skills and behavior so severely that it eventually interferes with a person’s daily life and ability to complete even the “simplest” tasks.

• Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. There is currently no cure or way to slow down its progression.

• Aging is the greatest risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease with most people showing signs and symptoms at age 65 or later.

• Alzheimer’s is currently ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, but recent estimates indicate that the disease may now rank third behind heart disease and cancer.

• In New Jersey, over 180,000 people have Alzheimer’s disease and they are supported by over 448,000 caregivers.

As your local Alzheimer’s nonprofit organization serving statewide, Alzheimer’s New Jersey is here to help. Last year, our programs and services benefited 14,000 New Jersey residents.

To learn more, call our Helpline at (888) 280-6055 or visit www.alznj.org.  Local families can count on Alzheimer’s New Jersey to help them navigate the challenges of the disease the best way possible.

Kenneth C. Zaentz, CFRE
President & CEO
Alzheimer’s New Jersey