Alzheimer's Association

History

Jerome H. Stone founded the Alzheimer's Association with the help of several family support groups after meeting with the National Institute on Aging in 1979. The Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association was incorporated on April 10, 1980. In that year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invested $13 million in Alzheimer's disease research. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan designated the first National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Week. The Alzheimer's Association founded more chapters and started its own research program.

Since its founding, the Alzheimer’s Association has been a catalyst and leader for a generation of advancements in Alzheimer research and care.

Advocacy

The Alzheimer's Impact Movement AIM), the sister organization of the Alzheimer’s Association, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization.

Rita Hayworth Galas

In 1980 actress and dancer Rita Hayworth was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, which contributed to her death in 1987 at age 68. The public disclosure and discussion of her illness drew international attention to Alzheimer's disease, a disease that had been virtually forgotten by the medical community since its discovery in 1906, and helped to greatly increase public and private funding for Alzheimer's disease research.

The Rita Hayworth Gala, a benefit for the Alzheimer's Association, is held annually in Chicago and New York City. The program was founded in May 1985 by Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, in honor of her mother.

A Night at Sardi's

Started in 1992 by Laurie Burrows Grad in memory of her father writer/ director/ Pulitzer Prize winner Abe Burrows who died from Alzheimer's disease, A Night at Sardi’s is an evening of entertainment that has raised over 28 million dollars to address this rapidly growing health crisis. The benefit originally chaired by Burrows Grad and her husband, Peter Grad, was held for the last time on March 9, 2016, and raised over 1.5 million dollars. This 24th and final “A Night at Sardi’s” was chaired by Burrows Grad, James Burrows and Nicholas Grad, honoring and paying tribute to Laurie's late husband with the Philanthropy Award.

Blondes vs. Brunettes/RivALZ

Blondes vs. Brunettes Powderpuff football games were started by Sara Allen Abbott whose father, Texas State Representative Joseph Hugh Allen, died of Alzheimer's disease in 2008. Looking for a way to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association, Abbott organized a powder puff football game in tribute to her father, a lifelong football fan.^[6] The game is now played in 16 cities and Abbott has received national recognition for her efforts in raising over $2 million for the Alzheimer’s Association.

In 2014, “Blondes vs. Brunettes” grew into “RivALZ”.

Advocacy Forum

The Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum is an annual gathering that takes place in the spring in Washington D.C. The multi-day event includes training sessions, celebrity guests, banquets, multi-media experiences and topical presentations focusing on Alzheimer's disease policy-making and legislation. The feature of the event is a lobby day during which time attendees conduct meetings with members of Congress on Capitol Hill. Past guest speakers and attendees include Seth Rogen, Soleil Moon-Frye, David Hyde Pierce, Lisa Genova, political commentators Frank Luntz and Charlie Cook and members of Congress.

Alzheimer's Association International Conference

The Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2016 (AAIC) is the world's largest forum for the dementia research community. In the tradition of the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD), researchers, clinicians, care providers and students from over 70 countries gather at AAIC to network and discuss the latest dementia study results, theories and discoveries. Learn more at alz.org/aaic.

Publications

Alzheimer's & Dementia is the official publication of the Association, published since July 2005 by Elsevier for the dissemination of original research, comprehensive reviews, clinical trial results and other information related to Alzheimer's. This journal presents the latest original, peer-reviewed, basic and clinical research advances in the field, including early detection, prevention and treatment.

Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, an annual report released by the Alzheimer's Association, reveals the burden of Alzheimer's and dementia on individuals, caregivers, government and the nation's health care system.

Notable champions

ActionAlz.org features celebrity Champions who have chosen to advocate on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association.