Walk volunteer featured in magazine
Kari-Anne Ryan, a volunteer for the 2014 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Schaumburg (and co-chair for the event in 2015), was featured along with the Association in the Fall 2014 issue of Dunamis Woman Magazine. Take a minute to visit the website and purchase a copy…a portion of the proceeds go to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php
Efforts of Alzheimer’s Association advocates incorporated in funding bill
As the largest Alzheimer’s advocacy organization in the world, the Alzheimer’s Association commends Congress for addressing Alzheimer’s disease in the fiscal year 2015 funding bill. By incorporating the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act, which was shepherded by the Alzheimer’s Association, Congress has made a long-term commitment to elevating research funding to the necessary levels. Sign our petition to ask Congress to increase funding for Alzheimer’s research.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erin Heintz, 202.638.7040; eheintz@alz.org
Alzheimer’s Association Media Line, 312.335.4078, media@alz.org
EFFORTS OF ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION ADVOCATES
INCORPORATED IN FUNDING BILL
Advocates Now Call on Congress and White House to Ensure Enactment of
Critical Alzheimer’s Legislation in the Bill
– Alzheimer’s Association Statement –
Washington, D.C., December 9, 2014 – As the largest Alzheimer’s advocacy organization in the
world, the Alzheimer’s Association commends Congress for addressing Alzheimer’s disease in the fiscal
year 2015 funding bill released today. By incorporating the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act (H.R.
4351/S. 2192), which was shepherded by the Alzheimer’s Association, Congress has made a long-term
commitment to elevating research funding to the necessary levels. This bill will help ensure that future
Congressional Alzheimer’s funding decisions will be guided by the professional judgment of National
Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists as they race toward the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s
Disease’s goal to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s by 2025.
“After thousands of congressional meetings with Alzheimer’s Association grassroots advocates and staff
in the past 18 months, Congress has committed to a new strategic approach to addressing Alzheimer’s
funding moving forward,” said Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. “We
must hear from and enable the leading minds in science if we hope to adequately fund Alzheimer’s
research and accomplish the primary goal of the National Alzheimer’s Plan.”
Introduced in April, the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act calls for the NIH to submit a Professional
Judgment Budget for Alzheimer’s disease research each year, as well as a report that outlines research
conducted on Alzheimer’s disease relative to milestones established under the National Alzheimer’s Plan.
This annually prepared Professional Judgment Budget will be formulated by the experts at the NIH to
reflect the resources needed to accomplish the goals of the National Alzheimer’s Plan in each fiscal year
leading up to 2025. It will reflect the state of Alzheimer’s research and call out the most promising
opportunities according to leading scientists.
Additionally, the funding bill includes a $25 million increase for Alzheimer’s research, which comes on
the heels of an unprecedented $122 million increase for Alzheimer’s research, education, outreach and
caregiver support in fiscal year 2014. Together, these increases would bring annual federal funding for
Alzheimer’s research to $591 million. However, scientists have stated accomplishing the goal of the
National Alzheimer’s Plan – and one day having our first Alzheimer’s survivor – will require a
commitment of at least $2 billion a year.
There are currently more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease at a cost to the nation
of $214 billion a year, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2014 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and
Figures report. Because advancing age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s and Americans are
living longer than ever before, those numbers are projected to soar to as many as 16 million by 2050,
costing the nation $20 trillion over the next 40 years. A new study from a team of economists at the University of Southern California (USC)1 reveals that
Alzheimer’s costs to the nation will grow fivefold in years to come. These findings come on the heels of
last year’s New England Journal of Medicine2 study that confirmed Alzheimer’s is already the most
expensive condition in America. Yet, for every $26,500 the government spends on Alzheimer’s care, it
only invests $100 in research for Alzheimer’s – a disease that currently has no way to prevent, stop or
even slow its fatal progression.
“The accumulated evidence that we, as a nation, cannot afford Alzheimer’s disease is now overwhelming.
With Medicaid and Medicare bearing the brunt of the exorbitant expense to care for people with
Alzheimer’s, our only option to avoid these crippling costs is to invest in research now at levels reflecting
the magnitude of the epidemic,” said Johns. “While this additional funding is very much needed to
capitalize on immediate scientific opportunities, passage of the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act sets up
the potential for the sustained funding increases necessary to change the course of this epidemic.”
The Alzheimer’s Association commends Congress for its bipartisan dedication to Alzheimer’s disease.
The Association now encourages all parties – the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Obama
Administration – to ensure enactment of this critical Alzheimer’s legislation and the research funding
within the bill.
For more information on Alzheimer’s disease and available resources, visit the Alzheimer’s Association
at alz.org.
Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care,
support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of
research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia
through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information,
visit alz.org
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php
This week, Congress has the opportunity to take a major step forward in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, but they need to hear from you. Congress is voting on the fiscal year 2015 funding bill, which includes the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act. This legislation ensures that Congress is equipped with the best possible information to set funding priorities to reach the goal of National Alzheimer’s Plan to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s by 2025. The bill also includes an additional $25 million increase for vital Alzheimer’s research.
I hope you’ll join the Alzheimer’s Association by signing our petition calling on Congress to approve the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act and increase funding for Alzheimer’s disease.
Sign the petition now!
As you know, the Alzheimer’s epidemic takes an enormous human and financial toll on our nation. Today there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, and the disease has been recognized by the New England Journal of Medicine as the most expensive condition in America.
To prevent, stop or even slow the fatal progression of Alzheimer’s disease we must increase critical research. That’s why it’s so important that Congress takes action this week.
Please take a moment to sign our petition. Call on Congress to act today!
By signing our petition, you’ll be standing with the Alzheimer’s Association as we continue our work to fight for increased funding for Alzheimer’s research, improved access to care and support services for families facing the disease.
Tell Congress today: It’s time to act on Alzheimer’s.
Today I’m standing with the Alzheimer’s Association to ask members of Congress to support the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act, which ensures that future funding decisions will be informed by the professional judgment of National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists, and to approve an additional $25 million increase for vital Alzheimer’s research.
Currently there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and that number will only continue to rise as our nation’s population ages. That’s why I’m asking Congress to increase research funding to help prevent, stop and slow the fatal progression of this devastating disease.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php
Right now, we have an important opportunity to support those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias: A San Francisco foundation that wishes to remain anonymous has agreed to give $170,000 to the Alzheimer’s Association research programs if we raise that same amount online by December 15.
This foundation has been directly impacted by Alzheimer’s and is committed to the fight against the disease. Please join them today and your tax-deductible donation of $50 can become $100, or a gift of $100 can become $200.
Any amount you give can pack twice the punch in support of our mission to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Please give as generously as you can today. We need your support by December 15.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php
Former model with Alzheimer’s disease wanders from home
B. Smith, a former model who has Alzheimer’s disease, traveled more than 50 miles from Manhattan to Staten Island after wandering from home last week before being found safe, Six in 10 people with Alzheimer’s will wander, but there are strategies and services to help prevent it.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php