2.08.2007 - 08:21am ET

(CSRwire) CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 2007--Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias know no boundaries. To better assist the rapidly growing Hispanic/Latino community in the United States, which is at greater risk for Alzheimer's than the general population, and to provide helpful news about Alzheimer's, MetLife Foundation has awarded the Alzheimer's Association $300,000. The grant will fund Hispanic education initiatives nationally and the Association's internet news bureau. Over the past two decades, MetLife Foundation has contributed more than $3.2 million to the Alzheimer's Association.

"We are grateful for MetLife Foundation's long-standing support," said Angela Geiger, vice president of Constituent Relations, Alzheimer's Association. "This generous renewal donation will help us continue our diversity initiatives and improve Alzheimer's education and care services in Hispanic and Latino communities across the country."

By 2050, the life expectancy for the Hispanic/Latino population will increase to age 87, surpassing all other ethnic groups in the United States. At the same time, the number of Hispanics elders with Alzheimer's is expected to increase by more than 600 percent--growing from 200,000 to 1.3 million. The problem is compounded by the fact that at present, older Hispanics have far less health insurance coverage than their non-Hispanic counterparts. More than 30 percent of the Hispanic/Latino population, and more than one-fourth of Hispanics age 50 to 64 who have chronic conditions, are uninsured.

The grant will better enable the Alzheimer's Association to reach the Hispanic/Latino population, by providing critical information about the disease on a grassroots level. As is common among many minority groups, the Hispanic/Latino community encounters obstacles that limit information, care, and health resources. As a result, there is a great need among the U.S. Latino/Hispanic community for trusted information and referral sources about dementia, which the Hispanic culture has often discounted as simply a normal part of the aging process.

"Alzheimer's affects millions of individuals, and the general public relies upon the Alzheimer's Association as the leading resource for accurate information about the disease," said Sibyl Jacobson, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. "MetLife Foundation is pleased to support this project, which will provide much-needed resources to the Latino community."

About MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 by MetLife to carry on its long-standing tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Grants support health, education, civic and cultural programs. In aging, the Foundation funds programs that promote healthy aging and address issues of caregiving, intergenerational activities, mental fitness, and volunteerism. The Foundation also supports research on Alzheimer's disease through its Awards for Medical Research program. More information about the Foundation is available at www.metlife.org.

About the Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association, the world leader in Alzheimer research and support, is the first and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to finding prevention methods, treatments and an eventual cure for Alzheimer's. For over 25 years, the donor-supported, not-for-profit Alzheimer's Association has provided reliable information and care consultation; created supportive services for families; increased funding for dementia research; and influenced public policy changes.



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