For My Daddy Andre Boisvert

and all Daddy's who are so much loved by their Baby Girls.

For every picture or painting you buy, 5% wll go to

The Alzheimer Society

What is Alzheimer

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease. Several changes occur in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. The brain cells shrink or disappear, and are replaced by dense, irregularly-shaped spots, or plaques. Another indicator of the disease is thread-like tangles within existing brain cells. These tangles eventually choke healthy brain cells.

As Alzheimer's disease affects each area of the brain, certain functions or abilities are lost. This results in specific symptoms or changes in behaviour. It is important to remember that once an ability is lost it can rarely be relearned.

Although the disease results in changes, it does not affect the person's ability to appreciate, respond to and experience feelings such as joy, anger, fear, love or sadness.

While it is not possible to restore function to brain cells damaged by Alzheimer's disease, there are treatments and strategies that can help both the person with the disease and the caregiver.

Statistic

This information is taken from a variety of sources. All figures are estimates. Please see footnotes for full references.

In 2006:

* There will be an estimated 97,000 new cases of dementiao

59,340 women

37,870 men

* An estimated 435,000 Canadians over 65 have Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.2

o 298,000 women

o 137,000 men

* An estimated 290,000 Canadians over 65 have Alzheimer's disease.

By 2011:

* new cases of dementia are expected to reach

111,560 per year.

67,680 will be women

43,880 will be men

By 2031:

* over 3/4 million Canadians are expected to have Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia; it accounts for 64 per cent of all dementias.

1 in 13 Canadians over age 65 is affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

* 1 in 50 between ages 65-74

* 1 in 9 between ages 75-84

* 1 in 3 over age 85

1 in 20 Canadians over age 65 is affected by Alzheimer's disease.

* 1 in 100 between ages 65-74

* 1 in 14 between ages 75-84

* 1 in 4 over age 85

Over 52 per cent of Canadians know someone with Alzheimer's disease.3

Almost 25 per cent of Canadians have someone with Alzheimer's disease in their family.3

Twice as many women as men have dementia -- researchers are studying the reasons for this.

Half of those with dementia live in the community; half live in institutions -- however, this balance varies from region to region across Canada.

Help for today, Hope for tomorrow

Thank you for your support

Nathalie Boisvert