NEW YORK, April 16 (UPI) -- A poll finds that while more than half of U.S. adults know someone with Alzheimer's, 90 percent say they don't know much about the disease.
More than 5 million U.S. adults have Alzheimer's disease and someone new is added to those ranks every 72 seconds, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
"It's this lack of understanding that has fueled complacency," said actress Kate Burton, whose parents were stage and film actor Richard Burton and actress Sybil Williams Christopher.
"Shows like 'Grey's Anatomy' and the character I played -- Ellis Grey -- have slowly awakened our senses to what individuals with the disease and their families have to endure. The reality is, Alzheimer's can strike as young as age 30 and it's a slow, debilitating, fatal disease. This new exhibit and campaign will hopefully open people's eyes to the reality of this horrible disease."
Dozens of celebrities are lending a hand to educate the public on the facts of Alzheimer's disease and dispel the misperception that Alzheimer's disease is just about old people losing their memory; those suffering from Alzheimer's disease will lose the ability to form thoughts, remember simple words and ultimately communicate.
