As medical advances help more Americans survive cancer and heart disease, Delaware Alzheimer’s advocates call for greater attention to a disease that remains incurable.

By George D. Rotsch, Delaware LIVE News

WILMINGTON, Del. — As medical advances help more Americans survive cancer and heart disease, another major health challenge continues to confront families across Delaware: Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive and ultimately fatal illness for which there is still no cure.

That growing concern will bring families, caregivers, volunteers and supporters together Saturday, Oct. 31, for Wilmington’s annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park.

Organized by the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Chapter, the event is part of the world’s largest fundraising effort dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. But organizers say the walk also serves another important purpose: reminding the community that progress against other major diseases should be matched by a greater commitment to fighting Alzheimer’s.

For Glen Gray, board chair of the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Chapter, the contrast between medical progress against other major diseases and the continuing challenge of Alzheimer’s underscores the importance of the annual walk.

“We have made tremendous progress in the fight against cancer and heart disease, and more Americans are surviving illnesses that once claimed so many lives,” Gray said. “But there is a heartbreaking reality. Too many people who have survived cancer or heart disease may be later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. They have fought and won one battle, only to face a disease for which there is still no cure. That’s why this walk is becoming more important every year. We need to bring the same urgency, commitment and resources to Alzheimer’s that have helped us make such extraordinary progress against other major diseases.”

Medical progress highlights the Alzheimer’s challenge

There is evidence supporting the broader concern.

According to the American Cancer Society, the nation’s overall cancer death rate has declined dramatically since 1991, reflecting improvements in prevention, early detection and treatment. Five-year relative survival for cancer patients has reached approximately 70% for those diagnosed between 2015 and 2021.

Heart disease mortality has also declined over the longer term as advances in treatment, medications and prevention have helped more patients live longer.

Alzheimer’s presents a different challenge.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2026 Facts and Figures report, approximately 7.4 million Americans ages 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia. Between 2000 and 2024, reported Alzheimer’s deaths increased 134%, while deaths from heart disease and stroke declined.

New Alzheimer’s treatments offer hope by slowing disease progression in some patients, particularly in the earlier stages. However, there is still no treatment that cures the disease.

As more Americans live into their 70s, 80s and beyond, Alzheimer’s and other dementias present an increasingly significant challenge for families and the nation’s health care system.

More than 22,000 Delawareans living with Alzheimer’s

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that approximately 22,300 Delaware residents are living with Alzheimer’s, while another 37,000 residents provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.

The disease affects far more than memory. As Alzheimer’s progresses, patients can lose their ability to manage finances, drive, communicate, recognize loved ones and eventually perform basic daily activities.

For family caregivers, the responsibilities can last years and often require major changes to employment, household finances and personal schedules.

According to the association, Delaware dementia caregivers provide approximately 67 million hours of unpaid care annually, representing an estimated $1.7 billion in economic value.

Those figures underscore the importance of community resources, family education, respite services and continued medical research.

The Alzheimer’s Association provides educational programs, caregiver support and a 24-hour helpline to assist families confronting these challenges.

Promise Garden honors those affected by the disease

One of Saturday’s most meaningful traditions will be the Promise Garden ceremony, during which participants carry colorful flowers representing their personal connections to Alzheimer’s.

Blue flowers represent people living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Purple flowers honor individuals who have died from the disease. Yellow flowers recognize those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, while orange flowers represent supporters of the cause.

Together, the flowers symbolize the different ways Alzheimer’s touches families and the shared determination to find effective treatments and ultimately a cure.

For participants who have lost loved ones, the ceremony offers an opportunity for remembrance. For those currently caring for someone with dementia, it provides a sense of community and reassurance that they are not facing the disease alone.

The event also brings together businesses, civic organizations, health care professionals and individuals who raise funds through teams and personal contributions.

Supporting research, treatment and families

Since its beginnings as Memory Walk in 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association’s nationwide walking initiative has mobilized millions of Americans in support of its mission.

Money raised helps advance research while supporting education, advocacy and assistance for patients and caregivers.

With an aging population and an increasing number of families affected by dementia, the work has taken on greater importance.

The association is encouraging Delaware residents to participate in Saturday’s Wilmington event by walking, forming a team, volunteering or contributing financially.

Residents who cannot participate in Wilmington will have another opportunity Saturday, Nov. 14, when the Southern Delaware Walk to End Alzheimer’s takes place. That event was rescheduled from its original fall date.

The two Delaware walks are part of the association’s broader national effort to turn public awareness into meaningful progress against the disease.

For families confronting Alzheimer’s today, that progress cannot come soon enough.

TO GO: Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Wilmington Walk to End Alzheimer’s

• Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026
• Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park, Rosa Parks Drive, Wilmington
• Registration and ceremony times should be confirmed with the organizer.

Southern Delaware Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Delaware LIVE collaborates with a network of professional journalists to cover a diverse range of stories across various fields.  Staff Writers include experienced journalists and young professionals.  If you have questions, please feel free to contact [email protected] or our publisher, George D. Rotsch, at [email protected]