Bryan ADRC staff bike for Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act

posted August 3rd, 2010

Of the various health problems Americans face, Alzheimer's disease is one that many would rather not think about. However, the public health significance and the personal costs of this devastating disease affecting over 5.3 million Americans cannot be denied.

Alzheimer's disease is the 7th leading cause of death and costs over 172 billion dollars in annual costs and involves over 10.9 million unpaid caregivers, often family members who must leave the work force to care for their parent, sibling, child or friend with this chronic brain disease.

To Charles (Chip) Loughlin and Rev. Henry Edmonds, both of the Joseph and Kathleen Bryan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Alzheimer's disease is more than a statistic. They have seen the consequences of this disease everyday in their work with patients who have memory complaints.

That is why they will represent Duke and the more than 140,000 North Carolinians affected by the disease when they participate in the Alzheimer's Disease Breakthrough Ride from California to Washington, DC.

The tour will raise awareness and much needed funds for the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Riders will collect signatures to support the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act, which calls for significant increase in funding for  Alzheimer's at the National Institutes of Health and will bring total NIH funding to $2 billion.

Loughlin and Edmonds are representing Duke and the Bryan ADRC and they need the support of the Duke community to reach their goal.

You can support them and their cause by signing the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act through an online petition. Sign now. 

You can also support them by making an online donation directly to their team. Give now.