Love Lives in Every Memory
Love, understanding, and the relentless pursuit of answers illuminate the path to a cure for Alzheimer's.
When my father was born, in 1929, the average life span was just 54 years. He lived to be 89. My mother, born in 1934, also outlived the average lifespan of her generation.
But both were eventually touched by Alzheimer’s disease.
As anyone knows who has lost a family member to the disease, Alzheimer’s slowly steals the very essence of a person. Over time, memory and consciousness slip away, leaving once-loving, vibrant individuals suspended in a fog, while family members watch in disbelief. The empathy and humility required to witness this decline are profound—and the glimpses of who they once were grow fewer and farther between.
The Scope of the Challenge
My family’s story is not unique. Alzheimer’s casts a long shadow:
More than 57 million people globally of all ages are living with dementia
By 2050, that number is expected to triple to 152 million.
Alzheimer's Disease remains the most common form of dementia, contributing to 60-70% of cases. Globally, the incidence of Alzheimer's and other dementias increased by 148% from 1990 to 2019.
At age 45, the lifetime risk of Alzheimer’s is 1 in 5 for women and 1 in 10 for men[GM1] . Up to 4 in 10 people could develop dementia after 55.
The cost of care is staggering—projected at $360 billion in 2024, rising to nearly $1 trillion by 2050.
Born into a generation that prized optimism, determination, and respect, my parents would have risen up to meet this challenge if they could. That is no longer possible for them—but it is for me. And for you.
Introducing Patients for a Cure
That’s why I founded Patients for a Cure.
Our mission is to be a beacon of hope and a trusted resource for those affected by Alzheimer’s. We provide comprehensive access to the latest research, support resources, educational articles, and innovations in Alzheimer's care. Just as importantly, we are building a robust network of connection—so that no one navigating this journey feels alone.
We aim to address both the emotional and practical needs of patients and families, easing the fear, confusion, sadness, guilt, and helplessness that so often accompany this disease.
Through education, advocacy, and community, Patients for a Cure champions a future where love, understanding, and the relentless pursuit of answers illuminate the path to an Alzheimer’s cure.
Why Me: A Lifetime in Healthcare
For more than 30 years, I’ve dedicated my professional life to making life-enhancing/life-saving healthcare technology available to physicians, hospitals and patients. When I began, fewer than 10% of physicians used computers to record their patient’s visits in electronic health records. “Population health” was left to health plans, and information was hard to access—leaving care uncoordinated, disconnected, and fragmented.
Progress has been made, but we’re still falling short. Yes, data is more available, yet it’s rarely portable. Health care touchpoints – primary care, pharmacists, urgent care centers specialists, insurance companies remain largely disconnected from each other. When switching jobs, looking for a new doctor, or moving, patients are often left with disjointed care and less-than-ideal outcomes.
While we work to help people manage chronic disease, industries push against us: food companies promote unhealthy eating patterns that add hundreds of excess calories per day, and pharmaceutical firms surpass all other sectors with governmental lobbying and spend with a significant portion allocated to television ads, which account for approximately 30% of evening news ad revenue—making pills look easier than prevention.
Unfortunately, there is currently no pill for Alzheimer’s. But prevention is possible—through lifestyle choices, early awareness, and access to the right information and support. That’s why making trusted resources available is so critical.
A Call to Action
This journey—both personal and professional—has shown me wha’s at stake and what’s possible. Alzheimer’s may be one of the most complex challenges of our time, but it is not insurmountable. What my parents taught me, through both their lives and their struggle, is that love is not diminished by disease. It is strengthened by the will to act.
That’s why Patients for a Cure exists—not only to shine a light on research and advocacy, but also to serve as a much-needed resource for people at the very beginning of this journey. Whether you’ve just received a diagnosis, are caring for a loved one who has, or are simply worried you may be at risk, this is a place to find clarity, support, and connection.
By uniting patients, families, researchers, and advocates, we can accelerate the progress toward better treatments, improved care, and ultimately, a cure. I founded this organization because I believe that love lives in every memory—and that together, through compassion, knowledge, and determination, we can ensure those memories are preserved for generations to come.
Join us today in building a future where Alzheimer’s no longer steals the memories we hold most dear.
References
1 Global Dementia Statistics: As of 2021, approximately 57 million people worldwide were living with dementia, with over 60% in low- and middle-income countries. This number is projected to rise, with nearly 10 million new cases annually (one new case every 3.2 seconds).
2 Alzheimer's Disease: Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, contributing to 60-70% of cases. Globally, the incidence of Alzheimer's and other dementias increased by 147.95% from 1990 to 2019.
3 United States: In 2025, an estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's. This number is projected to grow to nearly 13 million by 2050 without medical breakthroughs. Alzheimer's is the seventh-leading cause of death in the U.S., with 119,399 deaths recorded in 2021.
4 Caregiving: Nearly 12 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias, contributing over 19 billion hours valued at more than $413 billion in 2024.
5 Costs: In 2025, health care, long-term care, and hospice services for people with dementia in the U.S. are projected to cost $384 billion, expected to rise to nearly $1 trillion by 2050.
[GM1]https://apnews.com/article/dementia-alzheimers-aging-brain-health-82b74dd1834b6387284164da655eaad8