Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
311003138
label
National Alzheimer’s Disease Week [1984]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
311003138
contentType
document
title
National Alzheimer’s Disease Week [1984]
citationUrl
identifierLocal
RR-108
collections
Records of the White House Correspondence Office
Proclamations Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
311003138
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
f9d361a74819901b
ocrText
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Correspondence, White House Office of:
Records, 1981-89
Folder Title: National Alzheimer's Disease Week
Box: Box 75(1984)
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digitized-textual-material
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Inventories, visit:
https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/white-house-inventories
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/research-
support/citation-guide
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
Last Updated: 05/3/2023
OF THE UNITED THE
OF
SEAL
STATES
National Alzheimer's Disease Month, 1984
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The month of November is traditionally a time for families to come together
and give thanks for their blessings. It is fitting that November also be
designated as National Alzheimer's Disease Month to express our compassion
for those who suffer from this heartbreaking disorder and our appreciation for
the many families who devote themselves to the care of afflicted loved ones
who no longer can help themselves.
Alzheimer's disease is the major cause of serious confusion and forgetfulness
in old age. The death of brain cells, a mark of this devastating disease, at first
causes erratic behavior and unusual memory lapses and ultimately results in
the "senility" once thought to be a normal part of old age.
Experts estimate that some two million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's
disease, including between five and ten percent of our population over 65 and
20 percent of those over 80. If present trends continue, anticipated increases
could double the number of victims in these age groups by the turn of the
century.
In addition to the unhappy victims, untold numbers of others suffer the
physical, emotional and financial burdens of caring for relatives who are ill
with this disease. Families care for their ill relatives at home, if possible, and
later in nursing homes. Between one-third and one-half of all patients in those
institutions suffer from Alzheimer's disease or another serious irreversible
form of dementia.
The medical research community is focusing special attention on this disease,
and research is beginning to reveal many of its mysteries. Thus, research is
providing the affected families with a great deal of hope. Until a cure is found,
however, these families need our support and understanding. Public aware-
ness of their problems is growing, due to the work of voluntary health
associations-notably the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Asso-
ciation-but much remains to be done.
The Congress, by House Joint Resolution 451, has designated the month of
November 1984 as "National Alzheimer's Disease Month" and authorized and
requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this month.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim the month of November 1984 as National
Alzheimer's Disease Month. Let us mark this month by striving to educate
ourselves about Alzheimer's disease and by participating in appropriate
activities and observances.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of
the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and ninth.
Ronald Reagan