<table class="infobox infobox-institution">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">Alzheimer's Association</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="infobox-image" colspan="2">
<em>National non-profit headquarters</em>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Location</td>
<td>Chicago, Illinois, USA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Type</td>
<td>501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Website</td>
<td><a href="https://www.alz.org/" target="_blank">https://www.alz.org/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Focus Areas</td>
<td>[Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease) Research, Care, Advocacy, Education</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Founded</td>
<td>1980</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chapters</td>
<td>75+ chapters nationwide</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Total Research Funded</td>
<td>$300+ million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Tax ID</td>
<td>13-3039601</td>
</tr>
</table>
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's disease care, support, and research in the United States. Founded in 1980 by a group of family caregivers and healthcare professionals, the organization has grown to become the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research in the world, having invested over $300 million in research since its founding[@about].
<table class="infobox infobox-institution">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">Alzheimer's Association</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="infobox-image" colspan="2">
<em>National non-profit headquarters</em>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Location</td>
<td>Chicago, Illinois, USA</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Type</td>
<td>501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Website</td>
<td><a href="https://www.alz.org/" target="_blank">https://www.alz.org/</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Focus Areas</td>
<td>[Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease) Research, Care, Advocacy, Education</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Founded</td>
<td>1980</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chapters</td>
<td>75+ chapters nationwide</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Total Research Funded</td>
<td>$300+ million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Tax ID</td>
<td>13-3039601</td>
</tr>
</table>
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's disease care, support, and research in the United States. Founded in 1980 by a group of family caregivers and healthcare professionals, the organization has grown to become the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research in the world, having invested over $300 million in research since its founding[@about].
Based in Chicago, Illinois, the Association operates through a nationwide network of more than 75 chapters, providing services to millions of people affected by Alzheimer's and other dementias. The organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (Tax ID: 13-3039601) governed by a Board of Directors and led by President and CEO Joanna L. Rosado[@about].
The Association's mission is "to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support"[@about]. This comprehensive mission encompasses research funding, advocacy, education, care support, and awareness campaigns that reach millions of individuals and families annually.
The Alzheimer's Association was founded in 1980 in Chicago when a small group of family caregivers and healthcare professionals recognized the urgent need for an organization dedicated to addressing the growing crisis of Alzheimer's disease. At the time, Alzheimer's was poorly understood, often misdiagnosed, and rarely recognized as a major public health concern. Families affected by the disease had few resources, minimal support systems, and little hope for effective treatments.
The founding members included caregivers who had lost loved ones to the disease and physicians who had witnessed firsthand the devastating impact on patients and families. Their vision was to create an organization that would provide support for those affected while simultaneously driving research toward better treatments and eventually a cure.
Since its founding, the Alzheimer's Association has grown exponentially:
The Alzheimer's Association operates under six strategic objectives that guide all programs and initiatives[@annual2024]:
The Association funds innovative research projects worldwide through competitive grant programs. Priority areas include:
The Association promotes brain health and risk reduction strategies while advancing early detection methods:
The Association provides comprehensive support services for people living with Alzheimer's and their families:
The Association works to increase public understanding of Alzheimer's and its impact:
The Association engages communities across the nation through:
The Association maintains organizational strength through:
The Alzheimer's Association funds research through several mechanisms[@funding]:
The Association's research funding prioritizes[@facts2024]:
The Association's research investment has contributed to:
The Association's 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900) provides free, confidential support[@helpline]:
The Association offers personalized Care Navigation Services[@care]:
The Association facilitates Support Groups nationwide:
The Association provides comprehensive Education Programs[@early]:
The Association's Early-Stage Advisory Group has shaped dementia care, research, and advocacy since 2006[@early]:
The Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) is the Association's advocacy arm[@aim]:
The Association advocates for[@advocacy][@aadapt]:
The AAIC is the world's largest gathering of Alzheimer's researchers[@aaic]:
TrialMatch is a free, confidential clinical trial matching service[@trialmatch]:
The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care[@walk]:
The Brain Health Roundtable was launched in March 2026 as a cross-sector coalition working to elevate brain health as a national public health priority and accelerate the adoption of evidence-based strategies to reduce dementia risk. This initiative brings together stakeholders from healthcare, research, policy, and community organizations to develop coordinated approaches to brain health promotion.
The Roundtable focuses on:
The Brain Tour is an educational resource explaining how Alzheimer's affects the brain[@brain]:
The Association's Diversity and Inclusion Initiative ensures equitable access to services[@diverse]:
According to the Association's Facts and Figures Report[@facts2024], Alzheimer's disease represents one of the most significant public health challenges facing the United States and the world. The disease affects millions of Americans and imposes enormous economic and emotional burdens on individuals, families, and society as a whole.
| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Americans living with Alzheimer's | 6.5 million |
| Projected by 2050 | 12.7 million |
| Age 65+ population with Alzheimer's | 1 in 9 (11%) |
| Age 85+ population with Alzheimer's | 1 in 3 (33%) |
| Women (as % of total) | Nearly two-thirds |
| African Americans (at higher risk) | 2x compared to whites |
| Hispanics (at higher risk) | 1.5x compared to whites |
The prevalence data reveals significant demographic disparities in Alzheimer's disease. Research has shown that older African Americans and Hispanics are disproportionately affected, with studies indicating that African Americans are approximately twice as likely to have Alzheimer's or other dementias compared to non-Hispanic whites, while Hispanics are about 1.5 times as likely[@facts2024]. This disparity is attributed to multiple factors including higher rates of cardiovascular conditions, lower education levels, and socioeconomic factors that influence health outcomes.
Women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer's both as patients and caregivers. Approximately 3.8 million women in the United States are living with Alzheimer's, representing nearly two-thirds of all Americans with the disease. This reflects both the longer life expectancy of women and potential biological factors that may increase risk.
The Alzheimer's Association Facts and Figures Report provides detailed caregiver statistics that highlight the enormous burden on families[@facts2024]:
| Caregiver Metric | Value |
|------------------|-------|
| Total Family Caregivers | 11 million |
| Unpaid Caregiver Hours Annually | 18 billion |
| Total Value of Unpaid Care | $339.3 billion |
| Average Age of Caregiver | 49 years |
| Female Caregivers | 65% |
| Caregivers over 50 | 34% |
The average annual cost of care for someone with Alzheimer's is substantial. In 2024, the total cost of all care for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias is estimated at $345 billion, with Medicare and Medicaid covering approximately $233 billion (67%) and out-of-pocket costs accounting for $92 billion (27%)[@facts2024]. These figures highlight the critical need for supportive services and the economic impact on families.
The Alzheimer's Association's impact extends across multiple dimensions of the disease:
The economic burden of Alzheimer's continues to grow substantially. The total annual cost of care exceeds $345 billion, and projections indicate that this will rise to over $1 trillion by 2050 as the population ages[@facts2024]. This includes:
The economic burden is particularly acute for families, who often face catastrophic out-of-pocket expenses for long-term care services not covered by Medicare. According to the Association's analysis, families spend an average of $11,700 annually on out-of-pocket costs for dementia care, compared to $4,500 for care for other older adults.
The Association's Safe Return program is a nationwide identification and support program for people with dementia who may wander:
This partnership provides:
The Association has expanded virtual services to reach more people:
The Association's multicultural outreach addresses health disparities[@diverse]:
The Association works closely with the National Institutes of Health[@funding]:
The Association maintains global partnerships:
Association-funded research has contributed to significant advances:
The Association provides education for healthcare professionals:
The Association's Quality Care Initiative promotes:
The Association has specific programs for younger populations:
The Association supports veterans with Alzheimer's: