LETTERS

Enabling Alzheimer's public health interventions

Posted 1/15/19

To the Editor: The Alzheimer's Association estimates there are more than five million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease and more than 16 million Alzheimer's caregivers. As an Alzheimer's advocate, it is my honor to represent them. Congress just

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LETTERS

Enabling Alzheimer's public health interventions

Posted

To the Editor:

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates there are more than five million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and more than 16 million Alzheimer’s caregivers. As an Alzheimer’s advocate, it is my honor to represent them.

Congress just passed the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act with a strong bipartisan vote/the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act is now law, and I want to thank our members of Congress for championing this meaningful legislation. The BOLD Act will allow effective Alzheimer’s public health interventions to be implemented across the country. 

Thanks to Congress' support for the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, we will now be better able to fight this devastating disease as we continue to work towards our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s – and we look forward to seeing our Congressmen continue to prioritize this disease as a public health crisis that must be addressed.

Every 65 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s disease – which is why Congress must remain committed to action on this devastating disease. According to the Alzheimer's Association 2018 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, by 2050, the total cost of care for Alzheimer’s is projected to increase to more than $1.1 trillion.  The report also revealed that Alzheimer’s-related costs have soared to $277 billion in the last year, including $186 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid.

Passage of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act underscores how elected officials are working together to address Alzheimer’s as a public health crisis – not just from a funding standpoint, but also from a caregiver standpoint.

By applying a public health approach to reduce risk, detect early symptoms, and advance care, representatives in Washington are helping to change the trajectory of this devastating disease.

Eric Creamer

Director of Public Policy and Media Relations

Alzheimer's Association - Rhode Island Chapter

Providence

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