The Alzheimer's Association, in honor of World Alzheimer's Day, Sunday, September 21st, is asking people across the globe to turn their attention to this disease and make a donation to support research and care service programs for those touched by the disease in the United States. Their national board of directors would match every dollar donated dollar-for-dollar, up to $250,000, said the Alzheimer's Association.

Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease that kills brain cells and eventually the person with the disease. Estimated to affect 5 million Americans and 360,000 people who are diagnosed every year, Alzheimer's affects 10 % of people over the age of 65 years with the chances doubling every 10 years after. Half the population who are 85 plus are estimated to suffer from Alzheimer’s.

World over it is estimated that 26 million people are living with Alzheimer's and by 2050 the number is expected to quadruple. This would mean more than 100 million people would be effected by this disease by the middle of the century.

"Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, a group of disorders that impairs mental functioning. At the moment, Alzheimer's is progressive and irreversible," says the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research.

 Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and every 71 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer's. Initial symptoms of the disease include memory loss and the plaques and tangles characteristic of Alzheimer’s literally choke the healthy brain tissue causing it to die. As the disease progresses, it kills more of the brain, leaving the brain unable to tell the body how to move, swallow or breathe.

Gerry Sampson, development chair of the Alzheimer's Association National Board of Directors said, "The number of people affected by Alzheimer's is growing at an alarming rate, and the increasing financial and personal costs will have a devastating effect on the world's economies, healthcare systems and families. We must make the fight against Alzheimer's a global priority. It's up to every one of us to learn more about the disease and join the fight."

Several prominent leaders including former President Ronald Reagan and, more recently, the husband of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, have been stricken with Alzheimer's. O'Connor has teamed up with well known figures, scientists and former politicians to try to jumpstart efforts for increased research for Alzheimer’s treatments as well as improve facilities for caregivers as she noted that public funding for Alzheimer's has been stagnant for five years.

Private donations though kept the research alive. The Alzheimer's Association, Connecticut chapter says on its website, "These advances occurred on all fronts, encompassing areas as diverse as genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's, imaging studies to identify Alzheimer's in the living brain and blood tests that may one day be used to diagnose Alzheimer's."