The Postal Service will spotlight its Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp in September.
Semipostal stamps are First-Class Mail stamps sold at a price above the cost of a regular stamp to raise funds for designated causes.
The Alzheimer’s release has raised more than $1.7 million since its introduction in 2017. More than 13 million Alzheimer’s stamps have been sold.
The money raised supports research and treatment of the disease at the National Institutes of Health.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It attacks nerve cells and their connections in the brain, causing memory loss, a decrease in cognitive skills and behavioral changes. The disease is named for Alois Alzheimer, a German physician who discovered and described two hallmark signs of the disease, amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
Roughly 6.7 million older Americans are estimated to have Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. By 2060, that figure is expected to almost double.
It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
The Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp features an illustration that first appeared on a 42-cent Alzheimer’s Awareness stamp released in 2008. It shows an older woman in profile with a hand on her shoulder, with the suggestion of sunlight behind her.
USPS facility leaders and employees can promote the stamp in September but must follow the organization’s rules on semipostal stamp activities.
Employees with questions about these activities should email the USPS Ethics Office.
Email us your feedback. Your comments could be included in our “Mail” column.
