The Global Alzheimer's Crisis: Are You Ready to Take Action? By By Nancy Wurtzel IΓÇÖve been surrounded by AlzheimerΓÇÖs disease my whole life. Decades ago, both of my grandmothers had the disease. When I was in my early 40s, the illness claimed my father. Then, in 2011, I uprooted my life, moving across country and returning to the small farm town where I grew up to help care for my mother. Mummy, as we called her, lost her battle late last year after living with AlzheimerΓÇÖs disease for the better part of a decade. Now I wonder if IΓÇÖll also succumb to AlzheimerΓÇÖs. It is my biggest fear. IΓÇÖm afraid because AlzheimerΓÇÖs is the only top 10 cause of death without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression. How do I cope with the possibility of getting AlzheimerΓÇÖs? By taking action every single day. You can take action, too. In fact, right now one of AlzheimerΓÇÖs biggest events is taking place. September 2014 is the third-annual World AlzheimerΓÇÖs MonthΓäó, an intensive global campaign designed to raise awareness and advocacy of the disease while also challenging the stigma surrounding it. From Amsterdam to Shanghai and Los Angeles to Sydney, people and organizations are coming together to raise money and awareness for AlzheimerΓÇÖs. This yearΓÇÖs theme — ΓÇ£Dementia: Can We Reduce the Risk?ΓÇ¥ — emphasizes the importance of maintaining a brain-healthy lifestyle. Activities throughout the month focus on education, memory walks, free memory screening and social events for those with AlzheimerΓÇÖs and their caregivers. A new effort promotes the need for more dementia-friendly communities throughout the world. Additionally, during World Alzheimer’s Month, the London-based Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) releases its annual report detailing the wide-ranging effects the disease has on the global economy and health care systems. The numbers are sobering. An estimated 44 million people worldwide are currently living with AlzheimerΓÇÖs disease or another type of dementia. By 2050, this number could skyrocket to an astounding 135 million. AlzheimerΓÇÖs also generates massive economic consequences. On a worldwide scale, the cost of providing care for the disease now exceeds 1% of the global gross national product. To give this figure some context, if AlzheimerΓÇÖs care were a country, it would be the worldΓÇÖs 18th largest economy. And, if it were a company, it would be the worldΓÇÖs largest, exceeding the annual revenue of corporate giants like Exxon Mobil and Wal-Mart. ItΓÇÖs easy to feel defeated, but donΓÇÖt let that happen. Instead, become informed and engaged in the AlzheimerΓÇÖs cause. September is a great time to do just that. IΓÇÖm raising money by walking in an annual memory walk in honor of my family members who died from this disease. You can also take part in this activity or many others. Contact your local AlzheimerΓÇÖs group and start now, during World AlzheimerΓÇÖs Month. Nancy Wurtzel is a frequent blogger for ThirdAge. Visit her website at www.datingdementia.com.