November is National Alzheimer's Disease Month

November is a very busy month for most people. It is the month that signifies the start of the winter holiday season. Planning family get-togethers takes up a lot of time, as does getting the house ready for company. And, November is when many people begin to think about gift shopping and sending out holiday cards. The month is basically pretty hectic for most people, and filled with thoughts, concerns, and plans about the upcoming holidays. But, there is a cause that is celebrated throughout the month of November; one of which many people are unaware. This is a cause to which we all should devote some time. I'm talking about National Alzheimer's Disease Month.

Sure, it sounds somewhat depressing to speak of Alzheimer's Disease when most people just want to think about the holidays. But I think that this is the perfect time to discuss this disease. Why? Well, if you think about it, Alzheimer's Disease is one that affects entire families, not just the individual with the condition. It is a disease that gradually causes the sufferer to lose his memories. What better time to think about this type of disease than around the holidays, when most families are busy trying to make more memories together?

November has been National Alzheimer's Disease Month since 1983. It was established by former President Ronald Reagan, who believed that this disease needed more attention from the public in order to receive more federal funding to research possible treatments and cures. It is ironic that Regan was so instrumental in giving Alzheimer's Disease more attention; Reagan himself diagnosed as having the disease in late 1994. He suffered from the disease for many years before his death in 2004 at age 93. His going public with his condition helped to bring the disease to the public's eye; it really helped to raise funding and scientific interest.

But what do you really know about Alzheimer's? Unless you have a family member or close friend who lives with this condition, you probably only know the basics. You likely know that it is a brain disease that causes gradual memory loss. And, you have probably heard a story or two about people who cannot function normally in society because of the disease. Maybe you have heard about a person who left the house to go to the grocery store, bought the wrong items, and then forgot how to get home? Or perhaps you read about someone who repeatedly puts his keys in the freezer, or the ice cream carton in the coat closet, or who suddenly cannot remember how to brush his teeth? We've all heard about situations like this, I'm sure.

Those situations described above may not sound all that bad to someone who has not lived with someone with Alzheimer's. Everyone buys the wrong items at the grocery store sometimes, after all, and who doesn't misplace his keys every now and then? But if you come to realize that situations like those above are not isolated, once-in-awhile events in the life of an Alzheimer's sufferer, you will better understand. This disease is a 24-hour disease; memory loss, confusion, and difficulty performing daily tasks are commonplace and typically get worse the longer the person has the disease. And to make matters even more difficult, Alzheimer's patients also often suffer from depression, sleeplessness, and anxiety. Sufferers may also have a tendency to want to wander, meaning that family members living with them must be extra vigilant.

Having a month to observe Alzheimer's disease is helpful in keeping the public aware of the disease. Why is this important? There is no cure at all for Alzheimer's Disease. Sure, there are treatment options that can help relieve some of the symptoms (but these medications only help some sufferers in the early stages of the disease with some of their symptoms; not all symptoms can be controlled or even helped by medication), but there is no cure. We don't even know what causes this disease, only that the risk of getting it increases as a person ages. Alzheimer's is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Alzheimer's Association. That's why it is essential that scientists do more research on the condition-and, in order for more research to be done, scientists need more funding.

So, how can you help this month? Here are a few of the ways that you can contribute to National Alzheimer's Disease Month:

Shop for the Cause

At this site, you can buy various apparel, mugs, pins, and more. Proceeds from whatever you buy benefit vital programs in Alzheimer's research and care.

Write to Congress

When you click here, it takes you to a simple form that you can fill in to request that Congress increases funding for Alzheimer's Disease research and programs.

Buy Special Edition SanDisk Products

SanDisk has two different special edition products available-both of which are in the signature purple color of the Alzheimer's Association. During the next year, SanDisk will contribute $1 from the sale of each item to the Association, up to a maximum of $1 million. So, if you need a memory card or a USB flash drive, consider buying one of these to support the Alzheimer's Association.

Participate in a Memory Walk

You can go to this site to sign up for an existing Memory Walk or to form one of your own in your community. After signing up, you can print out forms to get people to sponsor you on your walk, with their donations going to the Alzheimer's Association. Can't walk? You can help work with a team as a team captain, organizing members and donations.

I hope that you take some time away from your busy holiday preparations this November to think about people who are suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. This disease needs our attention. So many people are affected by this condition every year-not just the Alzheimer's patients themselves, but their family members as well. We need to find a way to cure this disease, or at least a better way to deal with the symptoms. Scientists are working hard to learn more about Alzheimer's, but they need public support to help raise the necessary funding. I am optimistic, however, that if more people become aware of National Alzheimer's Disease Month, this disease will get the assistance it needs.