DUANE SHERRILLEditor

A good crowd was on-hand to show their support for initiatives to treat dementia and Alzheimer’s-related issues in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s held in Lynchburg Saturday.

Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease.

Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Founded in 1980 by a group of family caregivers and individuals interested in research, the Association includes their home office in Chicago, a public policy office in Washington, D.C. and a presence in communities across the country.

Worldwide, more than 55 million people are living with dementia. In the United States alone, nearly 7 million have Alzheimer’s, and more than 12 million are providing unpaid care. The Association addresses this crisis by providing education and support to the millions who face dementia every day, while advancing critical research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.

Between 2000 and 2021, deaths from Alzheimer’s have more than doubled. One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Alzheimer’s kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. More than 12 million Americans provide unpaid care for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. In 2025, Alzheimer’s and other dementias are projected to cost the United States $384 billion. This number is projected to rise to nearly $1 trillion in 2050.