March 21, 2007

 

At a Candlelight Vigil at Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, March 18, Carroll A. Campbell, III, son of former Governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. spoke to the hundreds of advocates gathered from across the nation to ask Congress to increase spending on Alzheimer’s research.  Drawing on the personal experience of having a loved one with Alzheimer’s, Campbell spoke of the urgent need for us to identify a cure. Campbell was one of ten South Carolinians who ventured to D.C. to tell their stories to legislators and to urge greater funding for a cure.

Campbell’s words came as the Association released new facts and figures on the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease.  At a time when deaths in the U.S. due to breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and prostate cancer are going down, the number of people dying of Alzheimer’s disease is growing rapidly.  Between 200 and 2004, there was a 32.8% increase in the number of deaths due to Alzheimer’s.

Estimates reflect that there are now more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, 67,000 of which are right here in South Carolina.  For South Carolina, a 19% growth in the prevalence of Alzheimer’s is expected between the year 2000 and the year 2010. 

  “The Facts and Figures released clearly shows that Alzheimer’s is growing at an epidemic rate,” said Peter Reed, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association Senior Director of Programs.  “Soon, Alzheimer’s disease will touch everyone in this country in some form or another, so the need to redouble our research efforts greater than ever before. We must have better treatments, earlier detection, and effective strategies to prevent Alzheimer’s. Scientists have made tremendous strides in the last two decades, but the clock is ticking,” said Samuel Gandy, MD, PhD, chair of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Council.

As the number of people living with Alzheimer’s in South Carolina has grown, the calls so to have the calls to the Association reports Cindy Alewine, CEO/President of the South Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.  The Association supports those who have the disease and their family members in many ways, including a helpline that is staffed 24 hours/day, 7 days/week all year long.  Said one caregiver recently, “they listened as long as I talked.  Not once did they say ‘I’m going to have to let you go now.’”  “We endeavor to be able to quick assistance to those in crisis as well as ongoing support, education and referral,” says Alewine.   “If someone you know is concerned about memory loss, call 1-800-273-2555 toll-free for more information.”

 

Contact:          Cindy Alewine, CEO/President

                        Alzheimer’s Association - South Carolina Chapter

                        800.273.2555

OR                   Carroll A. Campbell, III, Vice-President, Board of Directors

                        Alzheimer’s Association – South Carolina Chapter

                        (803) 799-8638 x 227