Alzheimer’s Disease. Building a better future.Dakoda AndersonProfessor BickmoreEnglish 2010-Proposal16 October 2012

No funding, no cure.Alzheimer’s disease research has came a long way in the past 15 years. Scientists are learning more about the brain and how it functions, more than at any point in the past. Which is having positive results on Alzheimer’s research. They are learning more about the disease and how it attacks the brain. In turn they are experimenting and learning how to combat this fatal disease. All of these progressions are great but only will get us so far.Alzheimer’s research is crucial to the future of the United States, and therefore the world. Research is expensive and Alzheimer’s research is highly underfunded compared to other high profile diseases. As the world population grows and advances so does the population that will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in the future. This fact is devastating. Alzheimer’s care is expensive. Our country is growing at a rapid pace and therefore our Alzheimer’s diagnosis will grow at that same rate. Health care is at an all time high and will only continue to rise in the future. Trying to provide and care for those who could be affected by this disease in the future could damage or completely destroy our economy. We need to come together as a collective community to push for funding for Alzheimer’s. Whether it is through government funding, getting backing from large corporations, public figures or getting donations. This is not just another disease it is an epidemic we shouldn’t turn a blind eye to. This disease needs funding. Whether through the government giving more to this research or through organizations taking donations. We need to find a way to get the proper funding for this devastating disease. I believe I have the idea to properly get funding for this disease. But, before we go into that let’s take a better look at what exactly Alzheimer’s disease is and what it entitles.

What is Alzheimer's Disease? Alzheimer’s disease is defined by the Alzheimer’s Association

as a type of dementia that cause problems with memory, thinking and behavior.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. The disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases.

Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Alzheimer's worsens over time. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment.

Alzheimer’s has no current cure.

Alzheimer’s facts Experts suggest that as

many as 5.1 million Americans have the disease.

The disease largely affects the elderly.

World wide roughly 1% of 65 year olds have the disease, that shoots up to 10% of 75 year olds and 20% of 80 year olds.

24 million people word wide have Alzheimer’s and that number will double in the next 20 years and double again in the following twenty. Leaving us at an estimated 100 million people living with this fatal disease in the very near future.

Alzheimer's is not just a disease of the elderly though. Up to 5 percent of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer's which often appears when someone is in their 40s or 50s.

How does someone get Alzheimer's?

Many experts believe two of the biggest factors in Alzheimer’s disease are Plaques and Tangles.

They are defined as such by the Alzheimer’s Association.

Plaques are deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid (BAY-tuh AM-uh-loyd) that build up in the spaces between nerve cells.

Tangles are twisted fibers of another protein called tau (rhymes with “wow”) that build up inside cells.

According to the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah,

scientists don't know exactly how people

develop Alzheimer's, but they believe it is caused

by a combination of genes and environmental factors (multifactorial disorder).The early-onset forms of Alzheimer's are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means that

only one parent has to pass down a defective

copy of the gene for their child to develop the

disorder.

No cure, no future.

Now that we all have a better understanding of exactly what Alzheimer’s is and how it works let’s get back to the topic at hand. Which is funding for Alzheimer’s research. Scientists are making progress in the race for the cure. With the proper funding scientists could accelerate the process and possibly come up with a cure or newer and improved medicines to help combat the disease.

Why should I support a push for funding?

I know what your thinking. How does this affect me? I don’t know anyone who has Alzheimer’s. Why support this disease over all the others?

While you may not think this disease affects a large amount of people in many different ways. While you may not personally know someone with the disease, you probably do know someone affected by it.

This disease affects more people than just the one affected. It affects their spouse, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, doctors, caretakers, neighbors and coworkers. The list is endless.

This disease is not without controversy. It has been a hot topic for the past few years. It’s starting to get the attention it needs. This disease is estimated to double in twenty years and double again in the next twenty. By then will you know someone affected? But, by then it will be too late. Your loved one will be lost and you understand the grief of those affected today.

Picture of what a neuron with Alzheimer’s look like.

Now is the time.

Now is the time we need come together and push for funding. With how far technology has come and what available means we have for research to prevent or find new developments to cure this disease.

How might we go about getting funding you ask? I have a plan on how we can get the funding needed for the research this disease needs.

If we unite as a collective community and push for funding in many different ways we can get the funding needed.

The first and most logical way is to persuade local government to push the national government for higher funding of this disease. Make it very well known how concerned we are about the growth of this disease and that we’d like to get ahead of the ball on this one.

More options.The next part of my plan is to get large corporations and prominent public figureheads. As many people know cancer is the most well funded disease research. In my opinion a large reason for this is the public support they get through corporations like Nike and athletes like Lance Armstrong. Parkinson's disease has public figures with the disease out in the public as well. Michael J Fox and Muhammad Ali both have the disease and get support through foundations for their disease. If we were to get a large corporation or prominent figure to publicly back our efforts our support for funding would grow. I have a perfect candidate for the job. Pat Summitt. She was recently diagnosed with dementia. For those of you who don’t know who she is I’ll give a brief biography. She is the former head coach of The University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team. She is the all time wins leader for Women’s college basketball and an 8 time national championship winner. Not to mention a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. If we could get her involved and in the public pushing for research our efforts could be maximized.

Pat SummittPictured to the right

would be an excellent choice for a face to this

disease fight.Getting public

recognition and backing for funding

and support for research of the

disease might be the best effort

would could put forward.

The final option in my proposal is to keep growing the organizations out there fighting for Alzheimer’s disease. Organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association. They are some of the leaders on the forefronts fighting for research and funding. Not to mention helping to inform the masses of what Alzheimer’s is and how it affects all.

Continued support and pushing your co-workers, neighbors, family members or even the barista at Starbucks to donate could go along way in this fight. Starting new organizations or supporting older and established ones are key to help win this battle.

We can do it.I know were fighting an uphill battle. But, if we stick to the proposal I outlined throughout this slideshow we will be successful. Getting funding through government support will help keep the motor going with backing from government officials. Getting large corporations to fund and back the disease would provide consistent funding for our fight. Having a prominent public figure to put a face to this disease would be crucial and advance support in the public eye. Lastly continued support and donations to the great organizations we have and the ones that will pop up because of our efforts.If we stick to this plan we will be successful and if were successful our community will be better off. Living happy and healthy live no matter the age. If we get ahead of the ball on this disease it will pay dividends for us in the future. It will stabilize our economy in the future and the quality of life of our elderly. We can win this fight.

Works CitedDeitsch, Richard. "Pat Summitt Diagnosed with Dementia, Plans to Coach This Year." Pat Summitt Diagnosed with Dementia, Plans to Coach This Season. Si.com, 23 Aug. 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/ncaa/08/23/Pat.Summitt.dementia/index.html>.

MOISSE, KATIE, and JESSICA HOPPER. "Pat Robertson Says Alzheimer's Makes Divorce OK." ABC News. ABC News Network, 15 Sept. 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AlzheimersCommunity/pat-robertson-alzheimers-makes-divorce/story?id=14526660>.

"Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet." National Institute on Aging. Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center, Sept. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet>.

"Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia | Alzheimer's Association." Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia | Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's Association, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp>.

"ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE." Alzheimers Disease. Genetic Science Learning Center of The University of Utah, 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/whataregd/alzheimers/>.

Works CitedActionalz. "What Is Alzheimer's Disease?" YouTube. YouTube, 26 Aug. 2008. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wv9jrk-gXc>.

Actionalz. "Alzheimer's: An Urgent Epidemic." YouTube. YouTube, 26 Aug. 2008. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOZBWqd5JAQ>.

Actionalz. "Alzheimer's: The Race to the Cure." YouTube. YouTube, 26 Aug. 2008. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgYixMPFthQ>.

Scientist Researching. Digital image. Ico.org. International Congress of Oral Implantologists, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://icoi.org/idref.php>.

Neurons. Digital image. Genetic Science Learning Center of The University of Utah, 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/whataregd/alzheimers/>.

Murphy, Danny. Pat Summitt Smiling. Digital image. Sportsillustrated.com. Time Warner Company, 23 Aug. 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/ncaa/08/23/Pat.Summitt.dementia/index.html>.

Works CitedAlzheimer's Association. Digital image. Alz.org. Alzheimer's Association, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp>.

ZATOR, DR. SWATI, and ABC News Medical Unit. "Future of Alzheimer's Battle Lies in Prevention, Doctor Says." ABC News. ABC News Network, 30 Aug. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://abcnews.go.com/Health/future-alzheimers-battle-lies-prevention-doctor/story?id=17108814>.

CAROLLO, KIM. "Skin Cells May Offer New Hope For Alzheimer's." ABC News. ABC News Network, 07 June 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. <http://abcnews.go.com/Health/alzheimers-treatment-scientists-turn-skin-cells-brain-cells/story?id=16510762>.