Alzheimer's is a horrible disease that
impacts so many. The true cause of the
disease is unknown. There is no treatment and death is always the
result. Researchers
are making great progress but more is needed. And there
is hope. I have partnered with the Alzheimer's
Association, the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support
and research to raise money for research. They are the largest
nonprofit dedicated to Alzheimer's issues.
My climbing's, and this website's, primary objectives are to raise money for
Alzheimer's research. In 2007 and 2008, I raised $25,000 through Memories
are Everything: The Road Back to Mt. Everest - where I attempted to summit
Everest plus four other mountains. In 2010 and 2011, I will begin a new project:
Memories are Everything: The 7 Summits - a two year journey to raise $1 million
dollars through unique series of fund raising events around the globe plus an
attempt of the 7 Summits.
While climbing
is the activity, fund raising is the goal. 100% of your donations
go directly to Alzheimer's research! None go to Alan's climbing
expenses. I encourage you to read more about the Alzheimer's Association
at their website and
to make your tax deductible donation today.
Also visit the Cure
Alzheimer's Fund which is a non-profit organization that funds
targeted research with the highest probability of slowing, stopping
or reversing Alzheimer's disease.
This is personal for me, you see my mother is dying of Alzheimer's. She is in
the final stages and no longer recognizes me or my brother. She does not remember
her husband of 60 years nor the house she lived in with him. Her memories of
her childhood have vanished and she is slowly drifting away. It is too late to
help her but not for the millions of others this disease will attack over the
next decade. Please give today so we can provide hope for millions more.
We started noticing my mother's memories had slipped several years
ago. During the 2003 Christmas holiday, we went to a hotel for their
famous brunch. As usual, we all got up to visit the buffet and indulge
until we could no more. I noticed my mom walking around aimlessly. As
I went over to her, she seemed startled at my approach. "What do
you want to eat?" I
asked her gently. "Oh, you know, the usual." was her noncommittal
answer.
In spite of this warning sign she and my dad continued their independent
life for several more years, refusing to give up their independence in
spite of our begging. As her memory grew worse, she mastered the technique
of the elusive "throw-away" answer. My dad supported her deception
either by design or by necessity.
Sitting across the table from her during breakfast, we chatted intently
about dad being in the hospital. I had to keep reminding her that he
was not well and it was serious. In the midst of this serious talk, she
looked at me with clarity in her eyes and simply asked "Now, who
are you again?"
With dad now gone forever my brother and I made the difficult decision
to put mom in a home in 2006 where she could be watched and cared for
every second of every day for the rest of her life. Her doctor confirmed
she had Alzheimer’s.
I called her on Thanksgiving, 2007. She was down saying no one was there
and she was alone. When in fact many friends and family had come or
were coming to spend the day with her. When I called her two days later,
she did not remember any of Thanksgiving day or that I was coming to
see her in a few days.
Now in late 2008, the disease has progressed to the stage where she
doe not recognize me or my brother. She does not remember her fondest
memories - those of her childhood or those of her husband of 60 years.
She cannot recognize herself in a picture. She now needs help getting
dressed. The only blessing is that she does not understand what is happening
to her and that she will probably die a horrible death when her brain
'forgets' how to swallow. You see, Alzheimer's disease is
not about just losing your memory, it is about dying.
Alzheimer’s is a horrific disease and is always fatal,
with no known cure. The brain loses its ability to function, with loss
of memory just one symptom. Eventually, patients forget to eat or drink
or breathe. In the United States about 500,000 people
younger than 65 suffer from Alzheimer's, in what's known as "early
onset" of
the disease. One in eight persons ages 65 to 85 will be diagnosed,
and half the population 85 and older will be diagnosed.
My Mother's sister Christine Lane passed away on Feb. 21, 2008 from
Alzheimer's complications.
Here are some startling facts about Alzheimer’s from the Alzheimer's
Association's 2009 report:
One in eight persons aged 65 and older (13 percent)
have Alzheimer’s disease.
Every 70 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer’s
disease. By mid-century, someone will develop Alzheimer’s every 33
seconds.
In 2000, there were an estimated 411,000 new (incident)
cases of Alzheimer’s disease. By 2010, that number is expected to increase
to 454,000 new cases per year; by 2029, to 615,000; and by 2050, to
959,000.
In 2011, the first baby boomers will turn 65. By 2029, all baby
boomers will be at least 65 years old.
The 85 years and older population currently comprises nearly
50 percent of the individuals with Alzheimer’s disease,
or about 2.7 million people. By the time the first
wave of baby boomers reaches age 85 years (2031), there will be an
estimated 3.5 million people aged 85 and older with Alzheimer’s.
The number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease
is estimated to reach 7.7 million in 2030, more than
a 50 percent increase from the 5.1 million aged 65 and older who are
currently affected.
By 2050, the number of individuals aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s
is projected to number between 11 million and 16 million—unless medical
breakthroughs identify ways to prevent or more effectively treat the
disease. Barring such developments, by that date, more than 60
percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease will be aged 85
or older.
As many as 5.2 million people in the United States
are living with Alzheimer’s, 26 million worldwide
73,000 people died of Alzheimer's in 2006
Over 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's
in their lifetime.
Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death and
recently passed diabetes.
The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer's and
other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and businesses amount to more
than $148 billion each year.
Please download this
2009 report distributed by the Alzheimer's Association for an excellent
overview of the disease, causes, costs and potential cures.
With the holidays upon us, I wanted to send out a greeting
along with an Alzheimer's update and a look back at an exciting year
in climbing.
Alzheimer's Disease - Progress but More Needed 2008 was the
culmination for my Road
Back to Mount Everest: Memories are Everything project.
This 2 year journey included 5 climbs ending with
another attempt on Everest - all to raise awareness and funds
for Alzheimer's research. While I didn't summit Everest, we
did raise over $25,000 for the Cure
Alzheimer's Fund (CAF) - and that I am more proud of than
an Everest summit.
My mom, who has Alzheimer's, continues
to decline. Just today I spoke with her and she didn't remember
my visit just a few weeks ago. She didn't know that my Brother
was there right now. She didn't remember that her sister, Christine,
had died of Alzheimer's earlier this year. At one point in
the conversation she asked, "How many people are in your family?" It
is heartbreaking to watch her just slip away - not knowing
what is happening to her - not knowing that she will probably
die a horrible death when her brain 'forgets' how to swallow.
I
am very frustrated that I cannot help her. There is no cure for Alzheimer's.
There is no way to tell if you have it until it is too late. This
is why the research is so critical. Important progress was made this
year. A CAF funded project identified
four genes that may significantly increase the risk of
the most common form of late-onset Alzheimer’s. But the
epidemic continues to moves quickly - a new case is diagnosed
every 72 seconds and with the baby-boomer generation aging, the
number will become staggering as will the costs.
So I continue
to speak to
anyone who will listen to this story - schools, foundations,
companies. I recently entered into a discussion with the Alzheimer's
Association,
the largest non-profit for Alzheimer's. In addition to funding
research they also serve as an invaluable resource for families
and caregivers on education and assistance to help deal with
their Alzheimer's challenges. Like the CAF, it is also a wonderful
organization that I hope to work closer with in the next year.
Climbing - Climb On! I had a great year in the mountains in 2008. In January,
I climbed Aconcagua (Argentina)
and Orizaba (Mexico) in preparation
for my Everest expedition
in April and May. As many of you know, I did not summit for the
third time but found a sense of satisfaction (and disappointment)
at 27,500' (8200m) in that I did my absolute best. As looked
over the highest peaks in the world that night of May 21st, I
knew the reason for my climb was not to stand on the summit but
for a higher purpose - and I had achieved that goal.
Once I returned home and rested
up, I spent the rest of the summer climbing my Colorado 14ers
with my friends and knocked off another eleven peaks making my
total 40 of the 56. However to be honest, while I love my 14ers,
I still hear the call of the big Hills :)
Tragedy on K2
Climbing is a complicated endeavor. When you summit, you think
about the next peak. And if you don't you sometimes think about
retuning. And for some climbers, it seems this conundrum does
not end until the mountain takes your life. I lost a good friend,
Gerard McDonnell , to K2
in July. Along with 10 other climbers, he died on the second
highest mountain. The details are still unfolding but it is
known that Ger was killed by an avalanche after summiting.
He was the first Irishman to summit K2. He spent his last breaths
trying to help three Koreans tangled in the fixed lines at
8200 meters - a true hero.
2009 - Big Plans in the Making I have big plans for this next year. I am looking at another
big project to raise money for Alzheimer's. However the scale
of his project is quite large and I need significant assistance
to pull it off. So I will spend 2009 reaching out to researchers,
foundations, companies and anyone who will be receptive to try
to launch the project in 2010. I hope to announce more details
in January or February along with an invitation for anyone to
join me. I you are interested in an early preview or want to
help, please contact me.
Ok, that's about
it. 2008 has been one for the record books in many ways - the economy,
the election, research breakthrough, my own climbs and more. Yes, not
every goal was achieved but so such progress was made that 2008 has
to be considered a successful year. And I am optimistic that 2009 will
be even better.
I will
continue to keep this website current including my coverage
of the 2009 Everest climbing
season and send the occasional update throughout the year.
And as always, send me note and
let me know what you think or if you have any questions or comments.
I enjoy hearing from everyone.
Please don't forget that you can
always make a donation to Alzheimer's research either to the
Cure Alzheimer's Fund or the Alzheimer's Association. Any amount
is sincerely appreciated.
