The donut. The frosting. The purple sprinkles. Yes, the purple sprinkles.
Furrylittlegnome was happy to walk into her work lunchroom yesterday morning to find this treat on the table. Dunkin Donuts has launched their “Purple with a Purpose” campaign – to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s Disease.
This week, in America, we are celebrating Alzheimer’s Awareness Week. The World Alzheimer’s Day will be on Friday, September 21st. Although gnome has no direct interaction with this disease, some friends and colleagues are currently are fighting this battle with parents and older relatives.
Named after a German psychiatrist in 1906, Alois Alzheimer, this disease is a form of dementia that is not curable or treatable. First symptoms include problems with how one processes information (rethinking steps on how to do something), memory loss and behavior changes. As time goes on, and the neurons in the brain degenerate more and more, the patient becomes less self-sufficient and more dependent on others until they can no longer take care of themselves.
Some facts from the Alzheimer’s Association:
Today, 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease
Of Americans aged 65 and over, 1 in 8 has the disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States
Deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 66 percent between 2000 and 2008
