An estimated 5 million people are living with Alzheimer's disease in the United States. Persons suffering from Alzheimer's-related dementia have trouble carrying out daily activities. The disease initially affects the parts of the brain that control language, thought and memory. Symptoms may include asking the same question repeatedly, becoming lost in familiar places or disoriented in familiar routines, and ignoring personal safety, hygiene and nutrition. As the disease progresses, perceptual, language, functional and motor skills deteriorate.

Alzheimer's also takes an enormous toll on society, according to the Alzheimer's Association, the leading health organization in Alzheimer's research, care and support. "The cost of Alzheimer's and other dementias, including the direct costs of Medicare and Medicaid and indirect costs to business of employees who are caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's, amounts to more than $148 billion annually," said Harry Johns, Alzheimer's Association president and CEO.

The Alzheimer's Awareness commemorative stamp continues the Postal Service tradition of raising public awareness of health and social issues through its stamp program. Recent stamps have highlighted important issues such as literacy, hospice care, breast cancer awareness, AIDS awareness, organ and tissue donation, and philanthropy; and, in the case of the Breast Cancer Research stamp, helped raise funds for research.