HBO's 'The Alzheimer's Project' Begins May 10

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most devastating forms of memory loss, and it may afflict as many as 5 million Americans. And as boomers age, that number could soar to more than 11 million by 2040, adding stress to an already fragile health care system.

In fact, the irreversible and progressive brain disorder is the second most-feared illness in America, following cancer. A new survey, HBO Alzheimer's Project/Harris Interactive Census, found that more than half (56 percent) of Americans report that they have been touched by someone, living or deceased, who has Alzheimer's disease, and roughly one-third of Americans are worried about getting Alzheimer's.

While there is no cure for the disease, "THE ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT"  shows we now have genuine reason to be optimistic about the future. Debuting on HBO on May 10, this four-part documentary takes a close look at groundbreaking discoveries and the effects of the debilitating and fatal disease on people with Alzheimer's and their families.

Maria Shriver has experienced the disease through the eyes of her father, Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver. She frankly states the vast need for Alzheimer’s care: "Early-onset numbers are rising. This is a disease that will affect people in their 50s and 60s. And with Alzheimer's, you are out of commission on every level. You need 24-hour-a-day care, but we don't have enough caretakers and facilities." Shriver also speaks candidly in one segment about her family's struggle to cope with the disease.

In the United States, the long-term-care service system is limited and overloaded, causing an increasing number of older Americans to rely on informal caregivers—primarily family and friends. Recent AARP research found that the economic value of family caregiving in 2007 reached $375 billion, with estimates that 34 million Americans provided more than 20 hours of care per week to another adult.

For more information on the series, go to www.hbo.com/alzheimers.