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Make a New Year's Resolution to Learn the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's
New York, New York

After holiday gatherings, questions are often raised by family members about changes in the physical and cognitive health of parents and grandparents they may not see frequently during the year. As a result, the Alzheimer's Association has seen a rise in calls to its 24-hour Helpline during and after the new year.

As the voluntary healthcare leader in Alzheimer's research, advocacy and support for all those affected by the disease, the Alzheimer's Association has designated January as the month to help raise awareness about the 10 early warning signs for Alzheimer's. In New York State alone, 390,000 people live with Alzheimer's and that number is expected to increase to nearly half a million by 2025, making it more important than ever to support families dealing with this devastating disease and to fuel critical research for treatments and a cure.

* Every 66 seconds, someone in the USA develops the disease
* Nation-wide, 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia, killing more than breast and prostate cancer combined
* In 2016, Alzheimer's and other dementias will cost the nation $236 billion

"As the number of people living with Alzheimer's continues to grow each year, now more than ever New Yorkers need information and resources to help in the fight against this fatal disease," said Christopher Smith, Executive Director for the New York City chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. "Memory often changes as you grow older. But, memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging, and may be a symptom of Alzheimer's or dementia. We recommend that everyone become aware of the 10 warning signs."

Alzheimer's Association 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's:
* Memory loss that disrupts daily life
* Challenges in planning or solving problems
* Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
* Confusion with time or place
* Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
* New problems with words
* Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
* Decreased or poor judgment
* Withdrawal from work or social activities
* Changes in mood and personality

If you notice any of the 10 early warning signs of Alzheimer's in yourself or someone you know, don't ignore them. With early detection, those affected can get the maximum benefit from available treatments and explore treatments that may provide some relief of symptoms and help you maintain a level of independence longer.

More information, including The 10 Warning Signs checklist in both English and Spanish can be downloaded from http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp .

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