The National Institute on Aging and the National Institutes of Health have produced a new book, ”Alzheimer’s Disease - Unraveling the Mystery.” What’s best, it’s free. You visit the site and download a PDF version of the book or order a copy for the cost of shipping. It’s a comprehensive manual that tells how the disease works on a brain to what it takes to be a caregiver.

Alzheimer’s is getting more attention as research shows it’s not a rare disease, but a major public health problem. Take into account:
• As many as 5.2 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s.
•10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s in their lifetime.
• Every 71 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.
• Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death.
• The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and businesses amount to more than $148 billion each year.