Twenty-five years ago President Reagan established National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month in November to raise awareness about this disease that at that time only affected 2 million Americans. Currently more than 5.2 million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, not including the countless others with some other form of dementia, being cared for by nearly 10 million unpaid caregivers. Family caregivers juggle their own needs, children, health issues and careers to care for a loved one with Alzheimer's. They save our country an estimated $257 billion annually.

A new president and new members of Congress talk about sweeping change and solutions for an ever-expanding economic crisis. But families facing Alzheimer's experience their own economic crises beginning when a doctor says the word "Alzheimer's." With what we now are calling young-onset Alzheimer's, (when the disease strikes when the person is in their 40s and 50s) the individual with the disease must leave their job, yet the wait for Social Security Disability is two years, often leading to financial crisis.

Norm Smith, diagnosed at age 61, was forced to retire from his position as vice president of academic affairs at a small college when he could no longer carry out his duties. He transitioned to COBRA insurance. With one year left until Medicare eligibility, Norm has nearly depleted his savings. Our Association is partnering with several others in what is called the Coalition to End the Two-Year Wait for Medicare and is supporting legislation that will end the two-year wait.

We do need sweeping change in this country, and it must involve the issue of Alzheimer's disease. The health-care community does not have the capacity to care for the 10 million Baby Boomers that will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease over the next 20 years. Currently the Medicare cost per beneficiary is three times higher if the individual has Alzheimer's disease. This summer the Centers for Disease Control announced that Alzheimer's disease moved up to the sixth leading cause of death in this country, superseding diabetes. Yet federal funding for Alzheimer's research has remained flat for several years, leaving families who face this disease with no options for long-term effective treatments. With aging Baby Boomers, the numbers of those with Alzheimer's are going to grow by leaps and bounds, bankrupting our health-care system unless change comes.

 At one of our recent events, Debbie Thrall, age 56, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's last year, urged the crowd, "be thankful for what we have, enjoy every moment and keep the faith."

I implore you to give thanks as Debbie has asked, and to pray for strength and courage for those with the disease and for those caring for someone with Alzheimer's. But I also ask you to push for sweeping change concerning the disease. And as you ponder your year-end giving, please consider the Alzheimer's Association and show your faith in our efforts to create a world without Alzheimer's.

Marks is the executive director

of the Alzheimer's Association,

West Virginia Chapter.

Twenty-five years ago President Reagan established National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month in November to raise awareness about this disease that at that time only affected 2 million Americans. Currently more than 5.2 million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, not including the countless others with some other form of dementia, being cared for by nearly 10 million unpaid caregivers. Family caregivers juggle their own needs, children, health issues and careers to care for a loved one with Alzheimer's. They save our country an estimated $257 billion annually.

A new president and new members of Congress talk about sweeping change and solutions for an ever-expanding economic crisis. But families facing Alzheimer's experience their own economic crises beginning when a doctor says the word "Alzheimer's." With what we now are calling young-onset Alzheimer's, (when the disease strikes when the person is in their 40s and 50s) the individual with the disease must leave their job, yet the wait for Social Security Disability is two years, often leading to financial crisis.

Norm Smith, diagnosed at age 61, was forced to retire from his position as vice president of academic affairs at a small college when he could no longer carry out his duties. He transitioned to COBRA insurance. With one year left until Medicare eligibility, Norm has nearly depleted his savings. Our Association is partnering with several others in what is called the Coalition to End the Two-Year Wait for Medicare and is supporting legislation that will end the two-year wait.

We do need sweeping change in this country, and it must involve the issue of Alzheimer's disease. The health-care community does not have the capacity to care for the 10 million Baby Boomers that will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease over the next 20 years. Currently the Medicare cost per beneficiary is three times higher if the individual has Alzheimer's disease. This summer the Centers for Disease Control announced that Alzheimer's disease moved up to the sixth leading cause of death in this country, superseding diabetes. Yet federal funding for Alzheimer's research has remained flat for several years, leaving families who face this disease with no options for long-term effective treatments. With aging Baby Boomers, the numbers of those with Alzheimer's are going to grow by leaps and bounds, bankrupting our health-care system unless change comes.

 At one of our recent events, Debbie Thrall, age 56, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's last year, urged the crowd, "be thankful for what we have, enjoy every moment and keep the faith."

I implore you to give thanks as Debbie has asked, and to pray for strength and courage for those with the disease and for those caring for someone with Alzheimer's. But I also ask you to push for sweeping change concerning the disease. And as you ponder your year-end giving, please consider the Alzheimer's Association and show your faith in our efforts to create a world without Alzheimer's.

Marks is the executive director

of the Alzheimer's Association,

West Virginia Chapter.