CHICAGO, Feb. 27, 2024 — The Alzheimer’s Association and the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) recently announced a new partnership aimed at providing Alzheimer’s information and resources to people living with the disease and their caregivers through baseball-centric sessions, jointly planned and conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association and SABR.
Working with SABR members, the partnership will seek to maximize the reach and impact of the Association to people impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia. Together, the partnership will also expand the Alzheimer’s Association Major League Memories program, an initiative designed to engage the Alzheimer’s and dementia community with Major League Baseball alumni through sharing stories of game highlights and baseball memorabilia.
“The Alzheimer’s Association is excited to partner with the Society for American Baseball Research,” said Lynne Carey, vice president, Relationship Development at the Alzheimer’s Association. “We will leverage the partnership to reach and support more people facing Alzheimer’s with disease-related information and resources, while engaging new partners to provide additional opportunities to increase the concern and awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and all other dementia in local communities.”
The partnership is one of mutual support where each entity seeks to raise awareness and provide support through members and events. Its initial work will focus on three primary objectives:
- Increasing concern and awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementia by educating SABR members through Alzheimer’s Association trainings to assist with conducting volunteer-powered programs.
- Raising awareness of care and support resources available through the Alzheimer’s Association, including promotion of the Association’s free 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900) to offer families disease-related information, referrals to local resources and care consultation.
- Identifying new partners, people living with dementia, caregivers and Major League Baseball teams to provide additional opportunities to raise concern and awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in local communities.
“The SABR community has tremendous reverence for and knowledge of baseball history,” said Scott Bush, chief executive officer of the Society for American Baseball Research. “Our partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association will allow us to collectively apply our strengths to the benefit of individuals and families battling Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. We are thrilled that the Alzheimer’s Association sees the value in sports history programs and honored they have chosen to work with SABR.”
The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s is growing — and growing fast. An estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older were living with Alzheimer's in 2023. Seventy-three percent of those are age 75 or older. Additionally, more than 11 million Americans are providing unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
About the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR)
The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering research and disseminating the history and record of baseball. Founded in 1971, SABR has more than 7,500 members worldwide and has established itself as a vibrant baseball community and a premier distributor of ground-breaking baseball information. SABR features 83 chapters and 33 research committees, and produces three annual publications — two editions of The Baseball Research Journal and The National Pastime — in addition to other print and e-books. SABR also hosts annual events, including the National Convention each summer, and the SABR Analytics Conference in March in Phoenix. Learn more at SABR.org.