A French charity is taking an artistic approach in the fight against Alzheimer’s — giving the world a chance to own an original Picasso painting valued at $1 million.

The Alzheimer’s Research Foundation opened up a raffle Tuesday for Pablo Picasso’s 1941 painting “Tête de Femme.” Raffle tickets cost 100 euros and the charity is releasing 120,000 of them.

Money goes directly to the foundation and the auction will be held by Christie’s in Paris on April 14, 2026. At today’s exchange rate, 100 euros is $117.50 in U.S. dollars.

Dementia Rates Expected to Double Every 20 Years

The Fondation Recherche Alzheimer is France’s large’s organization dedicated to research into Alzheimer’s and other related diseases. It has spent 29 million euros on research and supports 195 researchers worldwide.

Globally, more than 57 million people live with dementia with the expectation for that number to double every 20 years, according to the World Economic Forum. Between 60% and 70% of those have Alzheimer’s.

More than 7 million Americans are currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s specifically, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. By 2050, that figure could climb to 13 million.

In California, 12% of adults 65 years and older have the disease.

It and a host of other diseases contribute to dementia, but researchers say Alzheimer’s is caused by an accumulation of the protein beta-amyloid and the protein tau inside brain neurons.

The buildup kills neurons and damages the brain.

Alzheimer’s Research Creating Links, Drugs to Combat the Disease

In 2024, research led to the first drugs released on the market to combat Alzheimer’s, the forum reported. Donanemab and lecanemab show promising results in blocking harmful proteins in the brain and slow cognitive decline by 30%. If treated at early stages, some results show decline slowing by up to 60%.

Researchers have also recruited artificial intelligence in the fight. University of California researchers created a machine that can predict the disease up to seven years before any symptoms develop, with 72% accuracy.

Linkages remain broad, with scientists seeing connections between Alzheimer’s and hypertension, high cholesterol, vitamin D deficiency, ADHD, and osteoporosis in women.

Hardware could also help in the fight. The Economic Forum named InBrain one of its 2025 technology pioneers for its ultra-thin graphene implant that detects neural signals and can also stimulate neural responses.

Third Picasso Raffle for Charity

The ashen toned 1941 “Tête de Femme” comes from the Opera Gallery, which will receive 1 million euros of the projected 12 million euros. The gauche on paper painting marks the third charity sourced from a Picasso.

A raffle for the “L’Homme au Gibus” (Man with Opera Hat) went to a 25-year-old Pennsylvania man, raising 4.8 million euros benefitting the Internation Association to Save Tyre, the ancient Lebanese city, according to the charity.

In 2020, an Italian man gifted his mother the “Nature Morte” he won from the charity. The oil on canvas painting raised 5.1 million euros to rehabilitate wells in Morocco.