Alzheimer's Expert Eric J. Hall shares Alzheimer's management news and commentary at OurAlzheimers.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/75260/proactive-aging Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:43:00 -0400 Eric J. Hall I am able to capture a pulse on the nation’s mindset as it relates to Alzheimer’s disease from inquiries the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) receives from the public. It’s interesting to me to see how our hot line heats up when certain surveys or studies come out.    For instance, volume soared in April when the Alzheimer’s Study Group reported to Congress that Alzheimer’s disease is “a... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/75260/proactive-aging http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/51967/participants Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:03:00 -0500 Eric J. Hall So there was actor William Shatner playing Denny Crane in the series finale of “Boston Legal” this week—the Denny Crane who, along with his cast of characters, was always peculiar and pompous, and then who scriptwriters decided to give a diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.     In TV-land, this character isn’t the first and won’t be the last to have Alzheimer’s disease. It makes... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/51967/participants http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/49144/memory-screening Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:14:00 -0500 Eric J. Hall It’s the day before National Memory Screening Day, taking place on November 18, and like years past, I am obsessing about memories.    I’m rewinding in my head the night that my toddler began counting, skipping some numbers but reaching 20 nonetheless. I’m replaying the day when my organization unveiled the Quilt to Remember in San Francisco and two sisters were reminiscing about their mom’s love of gardening... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/49144/memory-screening http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/47375/month-recognizes Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:17:00 -0500 Eric J. Hall The President, like many Presidents before him, has once again proclaimed November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. It was the late Ronald Reagan who first signed such a proclamation; the year was 1982 and the momentous decree called for the nation’s first National Alzheimer’s Awareness Week.     How ironic, as it turns out. Ironic, of course, because the late President eventually had... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/47375/month-recognizes http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/45225/alzheimer-stamp Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:01:00 -0400 Eric J. Hall Today, Alzheimer’s disease will be making its “stamp” on the world, as the United States Postal Service officially unveils the first Alzheimer’s Awareness stamp and issues 65 million of the 42-cents commemorative stamps nationwide. Today, it’s a historic day for those committed to the cause of Alzheimer’s disease, families affected by it—and, on a side note, stamp collectors and those who still treasure... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/45225/alzheimer-stamp http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/44259/pet-alzheimer Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:03:00 -0400 Eric J. Hall After a hectic day at the office, there’s something quite comforting about coming home to not only your human family, but your dog—no matter what, Coral is there with her wagging tail and piercing blue “puppy dog” eyes. Petting her white furry coat offers a sense of calm, of familiarity.      Having a dog as part of my family, it’s not a hard stretch to see why pets are so beneficial to... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/44259/pet-alzheimer http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/43227/collaboration Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:15:00 -0400 Eric J. Hall Alzheimer’s disease is a huge health issue—bigger than any of us, bigger than just for those in the United States to tackle. It is clearly a universal crisis and one that needs to be addressed by all nations of the world.    With 26 million people worldwide currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and the incidence expected to quadruple by 2050, this type of epidemic aggressively requires all hands on deck. Only by... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/43227/collaboration http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/37932/vote-voice Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:26:00 -0400 Eric J. Hall   I have always been struck by the fact that, unlike most other chronic illnesses, dementia progressively takes away the ability to speak for oneself.  Our voice, the ability to articulate our views, is one of our most valuable possessions.  When that is gone, it is incumbent upon those who are able to represent with their voice.     Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with domestic policy staff from the... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/37932/vote-voice http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/32642/action-remember Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:05:00 -0400 Eric J. Hall Death may not be a good thing to keep harping on, but I feel the need to return to the subject of my last column, in which I highlighted the fact that Alzheimer's disease has moved up to the 6th leading cause of death in the nation.   I, we, need to make a big deal out of it because it is too frightening a statistic to ignore. It requires action-action to show the nation that Alzheimer's disease is not just a statistic. It is a disease... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/32642/action-remember http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/30821/alzheimer-death Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:17:00 -0400 Eric J. Hall Top ten lists are "hot" these days. This week, one of great interest to all of us hit the headlines. It was bad news in the news. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its annual list of the leading causes of death in the United States. For years, we've watched Alzheimer's disease climb the ladder, but this year it took a significant step: it moved into position as the sixth leading cause of death; while up just one rung from... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/7494/30821/alzheimer-death