Celebrities Vie For 'Who Wears Purple Best?' Title to Raise Awareness of New Global...

Celebrities Vie For 'Who Wears Purple Best?' Title to Raise Awareness of New
Global Prevalence On World Alzheimer's Day

Bradley Cooper, Soleil Moon Frye, Terrell Owens, Melina Kanakaredes, Seth
Rogen, Natalie Morales, Elisabeth Hasselbeck & David Hyde Pierce Strut Purple
for Alzheimer's Association

CHICAGO, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, on World Alzheimer's Day,
new data released estimates 35 million people worldwide -- a 10% increase over
2005 -- are living with Alzheimer's and dementia, highlighting the urgent need
for action and response.

Doing their part eight Alzheimer's Association celebrity Champions are having
a friendly "Who Wears Purple Best?" competition. Bradley Cooper ("The
Hangover"), Seth Rogen ("Knocked-Up"), Soleil Moon Frye ("Punky
Brewster"/Entrepreneur), Natalie Morales ("TODAY"), Terrell Owens (Buffalo
Bills), Melina Kanakaredes ("CSI New York"), Elisabeth Hasselbeck ("The View")
and David Hyde Pierce ("Frasier," "Curtains") are all vying for the title of
"Who Wears Purple Best?" Fans can cast their vote at www.alz.org when polls
open today through Wednesday, September 30.

By voting, fans also become Alzheimer's Association Champions and can take
action by learning more about Alzheimer's disease, becoming advocates, making
donations. They can also share the purple competition Web site with family
and friends via email, Facebook and Twitter to campaign for their favorite
Alzheimer's Association celebrity Champion.

"While I hope to be a favorite in the World Alzheimer's Day 'Who Wears Purple
Best?' competition, my goal is for people to learn more about Alzheimer's and
take action," said Melina Kanakaredes, actress and Alzheimer's Association
Champion. "People do not realize that Alzheimer's is not old age. It is a
progressive and fatal disease and staggering amounts of people develop
Alzheimer's every day."

With 78 million American baby boomers reaching the age of greatest risk, it is
clear that the crisis of dementia and Alzheimer's cannot be ignored. Left
unchecked, dementia and Alzheimer's will impose enormous burdens on
individuals, families, health care infrastructures and the worldwide economy.

According to the 2009 World Alzheimer's Report, newly released today from
Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), a London-based nonprofit,
international federation of 71 national Alzheimer organizations including the
Alzheimer's Association, the number of people with Alzheimer's or another
dementia, currently 35 million, is expected to nearly double every 20 years,
to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050.

"Today on World Alzheimer's Day, with 35 million people worldwide and as many
as 5.3 Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, we should commit to focusing
on Alzheimer's throughout the year," said David Hyde Pierce, actor and
Honorary Alzheimer Association National Board Member. "Our government should
commit to making this a health care priority, and the next step is to pass the
Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act."

Worldwide, the economic cost of dementia has been estimated as $315 billion
annually. The total annual costs per person with dementia have been estimated
as $1,521 in a low income country, rising to $4,588 in middle income
countries, and $17,964 in high income countries. (Anders Wimo, et al. "An
Estimate of the Total Worldwide Societal Costs of Dementia in 2005."
Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. Volume 3,
Issue 2, April 2007.)

"The number of people affected by Alzheimer's is growing at a rapid rate, and
the increasing personal costs will have significant impact on the world's
economies and health care systems. We must make the fight against Alzheimer's
a priority here in the United States and worldwide," said Harry Johns,
President and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. "Just like our celebrity
Champions, we must take action against Alzheimer's now."

In addition to new prevalence estimates, the report outlines eight global
recommendations based on report. The full report including recommendations and
methodology and may be found online at www.alz.org.

More than 60 celebrities from entertainment, sports and media are committed to
being Alzheimer's Association Champions and encouraging people to help raise
awareness and funds. The extensive roster of celebrities includes Bradley
Cooper, Soleil Moon Frye, Melina Kanakaredes, Seth Rogen, Peter Gallagher,
Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Bryant Gumbel, Olympia Dukakis, Terrell Owens, Kyle
Chandler, David Hyde Pierce, Victor Garber, Kyle Chandler and more (visit
www.alz.org for full list).

About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in
Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's
disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and
support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the
promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For
more information, visit www.alz.org.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Association

Kate Meyer of Alzheimer's Association, +1-312-604-2435, kate.meyer@alz.org