Alzheimer's Association Joins Celebra Hispanic Health Education Campaign to Build Awareness About Impact of Alzheimer's and Resources Available f...( Alzheimer's Disease Projected to ...),Health

Alzheimer's Disease Projected to Increase 600% Among Latinos by 2050

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Association has teamed up with Celebra La Vida Con Salud, the largest national Hispanic health education campaign, to build awareness among U.S. Latinos about the impact of Alzheimer's disease on the Hispanic population and resources available to assist families caring for a member with the disease. There are currently 200,000 Latinos in America with Alzheimer's and that number is projected to increase to 1.3 million by 2050(1), a growth rate of 600%.

"Latinos are twice as likely as the general population to be living in multigenerational households that include grandparents(1)," said Belinda Benavidez, Program Specialist with the Alzheimer's Association STAR Chapter in San Antonio. "The Alzheimer's Association is constantly looking to improve the lives of those living with the disease and their families. We have proactively developed resources that provide necessary education."

To help educate Hispanics about ways to identify symptoms that may indicate the onset of Alzheimer's disease, its impact on the brain and behavior, and assistance available to care for family members afflicted with the disease, the Alzheimer's Association is sponsoring an educational exhibit as part of the Celebra health festival. Now in its seventh year, the Celebra health education campaign and festival tour provides free medical screenings and interactive, culturally-relevant, health education exhibits in major Hispanic markets around the country in an effort to educate Hispanics about specific actions they can take to improve their family's health.

"This collaborative effort with the Alzheimer's Association is proving very effective in reaching thousands of Hispanics with this important information about an illness that is so profoundly impacting Hispanic families," said Carmen Ramos-Watson, Executive Director of Celebra La Vida Con S
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