November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and National Caregiver Month. In recognition of the battle against the disease and those who care for Alzheimer's patients, Murfreesboro is "Going Purple" in October by illuminating City Hall in the color recognized for the disease. In the United States, there are more than 15 million Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers, providing an estimated 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care.

According to the Alzheimer's Association www.alz.org, Alzheimer's is a complex neurological disease that is the most common form of dementia. More than 5 million people in the U.S have Alzheimer's. A progressive, irreversible neurological disorder, most victims are older than 65, but Alzheimer's can strike in the 40s and 50s. Symptoms include gradual memory loss, impairment of judgment, disorientation, personality change, difficulty learning and loss of language skills.

As the nation honors our loved ones who have battled the disease or cared for a loved one who suffers from the neurological disorder, the City of Murfreesboro is pleased to highlight awareness and urge citizens to arm themselves with the best information on Alzheimer's.

The 15th annual Rutherford County Walk to End Alzheimer's is scheduled Oct. 25, 2014, at Gateway Trails. For more information and to register, visit the Mid-South Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association at http://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=5430&pg=entry or call 1-800-272-3900. For more information on Alzheimer's and the national Alzheimer's Association visit

http://www.alz.org/care/honor-caregiver.asp.

City Hall will be illuminated Oct. 13-Oct. 31 in purple using purple light bulbs and colored translucent sheets called gels to light the second floor rotunda area and the doomed area above the rotunda.

Source:

Mike Browning, Murfreesboro PIO