The Alzheimer’s Association joins the world in mourning the loss of former President of the United States Ronald Reagan. Our heart-felt condolences go out to the Reagan family.
President Reagan’s legendary sense of hope and optimism were a source of inspiration to all of us, and especially to the 4.5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease and their families and friends, and the many millions more around the globe. We are grateful that President and Mrs. Reagan worked with courage and generosity to increase public awareness of this terrible brain disease, and of the need for increased and accelerated research for effective treatments, preventions and a cure.
The Alzheimer’s Association is proud of our long partnership with President and Mrs. Reagan, starting in 1983 when the President designated November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Month, and continuing through the creation of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Ronald and Nancy Reagan Research Institute in 1995.
With the aging of the baby boom generation, it is projected that the nation will witness a 70% increase in those affected by the disease by 2030, with 7.7 million afflicted. However, the rapid progress in research is making it more likely that there with be scientific breakthroughs in the next ten years, leading to prevention and the possibility that the baby boomers could be the first generation in history to NOT have to face Alzheimer’s in their future — IF we act now to accelerate progress.