100 balloons for 100 years of Alzheimer’s disease

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To: News/Health/Community Editors

Bailie John Gray joined Alzheimer Scotland to launch 100 balloons today, World Alzheimer’s Day, to mark the 100 years since Alois Alzheimer made the first diagnosis of the illness that would later bear his name.

The launch was followed by Alzheimer Scotland’s 8th World Alzheimer Day lecture which examined Alzheimer’s first patient Auguste D, before outlining the developments in treatment and care that have been made in the dementia field 100 years later.

Bailie John Gray said, “I’m delighted to be supporting Alzheimer Scotland raise awareness of dementia. With an increased number of people being affected by the illness it is something that will most probably touch every one at some point in their lives. It is vital that we do all we can to ensure that adequate information, services and treatments are available across Scotland. As spokesperson for senior issues I will certainly be doing all I can to make dementia a key priority on the council’s agenda.”

Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland Jim Jackson says, “100 years on from the identification of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia is still not recognised as a health priority. Yet there is no need to look another 100 years ahead to see the challenges that face us. Scotland has 64,000 people with dementia now. By 2029, as life expectancy increases, there will be around 109,000. That’s 70% more people with dementia and their carers who will need support from health and social services.”

In order to ensure that dementia is placed at the forefront of health planning, Alzheimer Scotland is joining a world wide postcard campaign highlighting that there is ‘No Time to Lose’. The charity is urging people to send a ‘Not Time to Lose’ postcard to the Scottish Health Minister Andy Kerr asking him to make dementia a national health priority.

For more information on how you can get involved in the campaign visit www.alzscot.org

Contact details:
Sarah Bromley, PR & Marketing Manager, tel 0131 243 1453, mob 07966 458 869, sbromley@alzscot.org
Jim Jackson, Chief Executive, tel 0131 243 1453, mob 07747 025 041, jjackson@alzscot.org

Note for Editor:
Dementia affects approximately 64,000 people in Scotland.
Alzheimer’s disease is the main form of dementia. The second most common is vascular dementia. As yet there is no cure.

Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland’s foremost voluntary organisation working for people with dementia and their carers. It:

• speaks out for the rights and concerns of people with dementia and their carers;
• operates services on over 60 sites throughout Scotland providing practical services such as day, evening and weekend centres, home care and befriending and carers' support services;
• provides the 24 hour national freephone Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000);
• provides the website www.alzscot.org;
• supports a network of over 40 carers' support groups;
• provides information to carers, professionals and people with dementia;
• publishes leaflets, booklets, reports and a quarterly newsletter keeping carers and professionals up-to-date
• has a research programme.