Women's Basketball: To Create Awareness
September 20, 2011 03:34 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The month of September is World Alzheimer’s Month and Sept. 21 is Alzheimer’s Action Day. The West Virginia women’s basketball team will help raise awareness, Wednesday, as members of the team will be seen holding signs that read “Honk to Stop Alzheimer’s” outside of the WVU Coliseum from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Women’s basketball was affected directly by the disease as icon coach Pat Summitt announced her diagnosis of younger onset Alzheimer’s disease on Aug. 23, 2011.
People with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease typically are active with their careers and families when Alzheimer’s strikes. It introduces a new normal into their lives and the lives of their loved ones. After diagnosis, individuals with younger onset do still live meaningful, productive lives.
Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth leading cause of death in West Virginia. It is the only cause among the top 10 that has no means to cure, prevent or delay the disease. Between 2000 and 2008, the number of deaths attributable to breast and prostate cancer, heart disease, stroke, and HIV/AIDS all decreased whereas Alzheimer’s attributable deaths increased by 66%.
An estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. The number for West Virginia is 48,000.
The Alzheimer’s Association, West Virginia Chapter is assisting the Mountaineers’ with the signs, educating the team on the disease and encouraging all people to wear Purple on Sept. 21 to increase awareness.
It is the only voluntary health organization in West Virginia solely dedicated to providing education and support service to individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, to their families and caregivers. The chapter serves all 55 counties in West Virginia and six counties in eastern Ohio.
Women’s basketball was affected directly by the disease as icon coach Pat Summitt announced her diagnosis of younger onset Alzheimer’s disease on Aug. 23, 2011.
People with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease typically are active with their careers and families when Alzheimer’s strikes. It introduces a new normal into their lives and the lives of their loved ones. After diagnosis, individuals with younger onset do still live meaningful, productive lives.
Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth leading cause of death in West Virginia. It is the only cause among the top 10 that has no means to cure, prevent or delay the disease. Between 2000 and 2008, the number of deaths attributable to breast and prostate cancer, heart disease, stroke, and HIV/AIDS all decreased whereas Alzheimer’s attributable deaths increased by 66%.
An estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. The number for West Virginia is 48,000.
The Alzheimer’s Association, West Virginia Chapter is assisting the Mountaineers’ with the signs, educating the team on the disease and encouraging all people to wear Purple on Sept. 21 to increase awareness.
It is the only voluntary health organization in West Virginia solely dedicated to providing education and support service to individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, to their families and caregivers. The chapter serves all 55 counties in West Virginia and six counties in eastern Ohio.
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