The president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association will be in Asheville this Thursday to talk about the status of various Alzheimer's legislation and also to commend Dr. Margaret Noel on her recent appointment as a member of the National Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association. Noel founded MemoryCare, a non-profit charitable corporation, 12 years ago in Asheville to meet the rapidly growing need for appropriate assessment, treatment, and support for memory-impaired individuals and their families.

From the press release:

Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, will speak at a town hall meeting to discuss the status of legislation including the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), the Breakthrough Act and the Health Outcomes, Planning and Education Act (HOPE). As a member of the national advisory council for NAPA, he will discuss the recently released framework for the plan and the recommendations the council established.

"For the first time ever, families grappling with this progressive, degenerative and ultimately fatal disease can have real hope that a national strategy addressing the escalating Alzheimer's crisis is coming." said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association and member of the Advisory Council.

Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death and the only one among the top 10 without a way to cure, prevent or even slow its progression. Today, as many as 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's with nearly 15 million friends and family members often providing exhaustive, around the clock care. In Buncombe County an estimated 5,590 residents are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. While the human toll is alarming, the economic costs are also staggering, rising from $183 billion this year to more than $1 trillion by 2050.

Hear from Harry Johns regarding future research and legislation on Alzheimer’s at a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 6:30 – 7:30pm at Deerfield Retirement Community, 1617 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC. For more information contact the Alzheimer’s Association at 800-272-3900 or infonc@alz.org.

About the Alzheimer's Association:
The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. For more information call our 24 hour helpline at 800-272-3900 or visit http://www.alz.org