UALR Accounting Professor David Dearman, a member of the board of directors of the Oklahoma-Arkansas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, will be the featured speaker at a 11:30 a.m. rally Thursday, Sept. 18, at the State Capitol to proclaim Thursday as World Alzheimer’s Day in Arkansas and to raise legislative awareness. Dearman’s mother suffered from the disease.

Approximately 100,000 Arkansas families and 26 million families worldwide face the daily challenges caused by this degenerative disease.  Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in America, striking one in eight Americans over the age of 65. As the 78 million Baby Boomers age, an estimated 10 million will develop Alzheimer’s.

World Alzheimer’s Day and Thursday’s rally at the State Capitol is designed to increase awareness about the reality that Alzheimer’s disease is an escalating epidemic. In addition to Dearman’s remarks, state Rep. Dawn Creekmore will present a proclamation to the Alzheimer’s Association signed by Gov. Mike Beebe urging citizens to work together to support programs dedicated to fighting Alzheimer’s disease through research and treatment, and prevention.