Dementia affects more than 70,000 British Columbians, but if nothing changes by 2038 – when today’s 19-year-old turns 45 – more than 177,000 people in the province will be living with dementia.
That means today’s teenagers may be forced to bear the brunt of the disease’s projected social and economic impact. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but there is hope.
Teens and young adults connected with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. are joining together in September during World Alzheimer’s Month in an effort to show British Columbians that Alzheimer’s disease isn’t just “an old person’s disease” – it’s a cause that impacts everyone.
“We need to raise awareness and help find a cure,” said Jessa Broeren of Victoria.
The 13-year-old is one of many young people in B.C. who have been personally impacted by dementia, and are now leading the charge for a cure.
“Everything you can do, even if it’s just raising money, gets us that much closer to a cure,” she said.
British Columbians can join Broeren and other young people lending support to the campaign this month by visiting the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AlzheimerBC to click, like and share to raise awareness.
Audiences can listen to and share the campaign anthem, “I Will Remind You” by Canadian musicians Brian Asselin and Eric Disero, about the impact of dementia on younger generations in a family.
Fans can read the stories of young people working with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. toward a world without Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and will have an opportunity to share their personal story.
The B.C. Facebook campaign is being conducted as part of a global awareness initiative, World Alzheimer’s Month, when Alzheimer societies and associations around the world will be working to fight the stigma of dementia.