Alzheimer's is a Public Health Crisis

It is time we change our thinking on Alzheimer’s disease. Too often Alzheimer’s is treated as an aging issue, ignoring the public health consequences of a disease that someone in the U.S. develops every 65 seconds. Two-thirds of its annual costs are being borne by Medicare and Medicaid. It is one that demands more attention from our government.

I will be traveling to Washington DC next month with other Alzheimer’s advocates from all over to Georgia to speak to Congress about this important bill. As a veteran social worker who has worked in various medical settings, I understand the disease’s impact on individuals, families and care partners.

Congress has a chance to take decisive action passing the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (S. 2076/H.R. 4256). Endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Association, the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act would create an Alzheimer’s public health infrastructure across the country to implement effective Alzheimer's interventions including increasing early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk and preventing avoidable hospitalizations.

Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in the U.S. Alzheimer’s costs the country more than $277 billion a year, which is why we need the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act. If we are going to end Alzheimer’s disease, then we must start treating it like the public health threat it is.

Join me in asking Rep. Karen Handel, Senator Johnny Isakson, and Senator David Perdue to fight for the millions of Americans affected by Alzheimer’s by sponsoring the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act.