USA Alzheimer's FDC

USA FDC
Name: Alzheimer's
Date of Issue: 17 October 2008

According to the Alzheimer's Association, every 71 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease. For these individuals and their families, the significance of this moment cannot be underestimated as it marks the beginning of a devastating descent into memory loss. For the person with Alzheimer's, interaction with the caregiver means everything.

Experts estimate that more than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. People suffering with Alzheimer's have trouble carrying out daily activities. The disease initially affects the parts of the brain that control language, thought and memory. It is the most common form of dementia among older people. To help recognize the warning signs, the Alzheimer's Association has developed a list of the 10 common symptoms of Alzheimer's disease: 1. Memory loss; 2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks; 3. Problems with language; 4. Disorientation to time and place; 5. Poor or decreased judgment; 6. Problems with abstract thinking; 7. Misplacing things; 8. Changes in mood or behavior; 9. Changes in personality; 10. Loss of initiative.

Since the mid 1950s, the Postal Service has released a variety of social awareness stamp on important issues such as Sickle Cell disease, Mentoring, Organ and Tissue Donation, Adoption, Amber Alert and Jury Duty.

The stamp ceremony takes place during the dedication of the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute's new $30 million research facility. In 1999, Senator John D. Rockefeller IV and his family established the Institute on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. It is the only non-profit, independent Institute in the world exclusively dedicated to the study of human memory and memory disorders. Its mission is to expand and advance the scientific research of memory and memory disorders for purposes of prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The Institute strives to move basic research out of the laboratory and into the hands of physicians and patients through innovative partnerships and new business models.

Comment: Although the Alzheimer's stamp was cancelled twice, but I totally accept it. It's natural and proves this FDC is a real posted First Day Cover from USA. Well done Jay!!