At the present rate, in less than 40 years, it is estimated that there will be 16 million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease. That’s more people than the current total population of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston combined.

Sixteen million is a mind boggling number for me. But when you start comparing populations of cities, you have just put those numbers in to some kind of perspective for me. Those are the four most populous cities in the United States.

Forty years is not that far into the future either. If you are 20 or 30 you could be developing this disease now. Remember, it typically takes 15 to 20 years for the disease to be detected. Now is the time to find a cure or develop some type of medication to retard or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Research continues to find new clues to the how and why of this disease; but at the same time they are finding that this disease can even affect small children. That last statement chills me to the bone — children, young adults, middle aged people — it is not just a disease of the aged.

I encourage you to join us for the Memory Walk this year. You can walk one or two miles or just from your car to the Old Settler’s Pavilion. We accept children, dogs, wheel chairs and golf carts — one time we even had a couple of horses.

The Walk will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. We are meeting in Comanche Trail Park. We have hot dogs, chips, sodas, candy and lots of door prizes for those who participate. It is a wonderful way to spend a lovely fall morning.

You will also get to see more than 250 potential friends. For more information on getting a team together, making a donation or just asking a question, please call me, Nancy Jones, at 264-1220 or 264-1288. I hope to hear from you.