Council Proclimation Hopes for "Future Without Alzheimer's"

Mayor Sidney Katz proclaimed June as Alzheimer's Awareness Month in the City of Gaithersburg at last night's weekly city council meeting.

Alzheimer's disease affects an estimated 5.1 million Americans and 26.6 million people worldwide. It is most often diagnosed in people older than 65 years old.

Abigail Reinecker, Brain Health Marketing Manager for the Alzheimer's Association's National Capital Area Chapter, was there to receive the proclamation. "Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's, and hopefully one day soon we will actually see that," Reinecker said.

To promote awareness of the disease, the Alzheimer's Association is hosting a run at the Washingtonian Center on June 19.

"When people think about staying fit, we generally think about our body from the neck down," Katz said. "But the health of our brain plays a critical role in almost everything we do: thinking, feeling, remembering, working and playing, even sleeping. ... Running is beneficial for both our general health and brain health."

Katz also declared this month as Bank on Gaithersburg Month to promote the city's program. Bank on Gaithersburg helps residents start their own bank accounts and learn about managing their finances. The city has partnered with several banks, such as Capital One and PNC, to provide no-cost starter accounts for residents. City staff will be heavily promoting the program throughout the month.