Alzheimer's Disease - lawmakers take action - Thank You!

There are more than 140,000 Georgians living with Alzheimer’s disease, over 5 million in America. It is the most expensive disease in America - both in terms of human suffering and financial resources.

This terrible disease is very close to me – my Grandfather, Mother, and several Aunts and Uncles have all perished as a result of this disease.

But, there is hope - recently our lawmakers announced a $350 million increase for Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for fiscal year 2020.

This funding does 2 important things:

1. Provides a $350M increase in Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding at the NIH. Without increased research funding to uncover and develop medical breakthroughs needed to prevent, slow or cure the disease, the number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s or other dementias could grow from 5.6 million to 13.8 million by 2050.

2. Funds the BOLD Act (Building Our Largest Dementia infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act) at $10M. Passed overwhelmingly in December 2018, the law directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen the public health infrastructure across the country by implementing effective Alzheimer's interventions focused on public health issues such as increasing early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk, and preventing avoidable hospitalizations. It establishes Alzheimer's and Related Dementias Public Health Centers of Excellence, providing funding to state, local, and tribal public health departments, and increasing data analysis and timely reporting.

Please join me in Thanking Congressman Doug Collins for his support for this critical funding.

To learn more about this disease and how you can join the fight to end Alzheimer's, visit alzimpact.org.

Sincerely,

Robert Polak

Member, Board of Directors

Alzheimer's Association - GA Chapter