By Mary McCourt
The Alzheimer’s Association’s 2018 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report reveals a steep increase in the strain of Alzheimer’s disease on people living with the disease, their families, caregivers and society at large. For the second consecutive year, the total national cost of caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will exceed a quarter of a trillion dollars, amounting to $277 billion in 2018. The number of people now dealing with Alzheimer’s has risen to 5.7 million persons nationwide. Last year a person was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s every 66 second, now it’s every 65 seconds.
These statistics require our immediate attention and Congress is the one body that can take the lead in bringing us toward a world without Alzheimer’s. Currently there is a new bill in Congress that desperately needs the support of Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11). The Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (H.R. 4256) will reframe Alzheimer’s disease from an “old person’s” disease to what it really is – a Public Health Crisis. This bill will create an Alzheimer’s public health infrastructure across the country to implement effective Alzheimer’s interventions.
The Alzheimer’s Association calls on Congressman Conaway to cosponsor the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (H.R. 4256). We are confident that with Congressman Conaway’s support, one day we will have a treatment or a cure and no more families in the 13th Congressional District will have to face the burdens of this devastating disease.
Mary McCourt
Volunteer Ambassador to Representative Mike Conaway
Alzheimer’s Association
West Texas Chapter
Big Spring
