Tempe, Arizona (NAPSI) - Ann felt a sense of accomplishment after joining the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry. Like many children of Alzheimer’s patients, she had cared for her father long after he stopped recognizing her. “It’s a heartbreaking disease, and right now we can’t stop or even slow it,” she said. “It’s the worst way to lose a parent. I’ll do whatever I can do to help end Alzheimer’s.”

With one new case of the disease diagnosed every 69 seconds in this country, we all should be concerned. Alzheimer’s could affect nearly 8 million Americans by 2030.

But Banner Alzheimer’s Institute (BAI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to research, treatment and care, wants to keep that from happening. That’s why BAI and its partners around the country have developed the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry. Through this initiative, they want to defeat the disease without losing another generation.

The Registry is an online community of people interested in the latest research studies and promising therapies. Some members may be able to participate in future studies. The Registry is open to anyone 18 and older; signing up is quick and easy.

“The Registry will bring together individuals who are ready to make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s,” said Eric M. Reiman, M.D., executive director of the Phoenix-based BAI. “It offers them the chance to learn about prevention research and about studies in which they might enroll. We ask people from every state to join us now.”

The Registry is a shared resource for the general research community and organizations nationwide and a resource for anyone interested in the latest advances in Alzheimer’s prevention work. It draws on the support of its other partners, the Geoffrey Beene Gives Back Alzheimer’s Initiative and the Alzheimer’s Research Forum, and the guidance of leadingU.S.researchers and advocates, including Drs. Paul Aisen, Marilyn Albert, Jeffrey Cummings, Jennifer Manly, Ronald Petersen, Reisa Sperling and Michael Weiner. The Registry is part of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative (API), an international research collaborative.

“Of the top 10 causes of death, only Alzheimer’s has no cure or treatment,” said Jessica Langbaum, Ph.D., BAI principal scientist and API associate director. Every person who joins the Registry will greatly accelerate our success against a disease that steals life before ending it.”

To learn more and sign up for the Registry, visit www.endalznow.org. Like the Registry on Facebook at www.facebook.com/endalznow or follow it on Twitter at @AlzRegistry.