ABOVE PHOTO: Sen. Bob Casey with Alzheimer’s Association Advocates from Pennsylvania.
280,000 Pennsylvanians are living with Alzheimer’s
Washington, DC – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, held a hearing entitled, “Changing the Trajectory of Alzheimer’s: Reducing Risk, Detecting Early Symptoms and Improving Data.”
During the hearing, Sen. Casey called for increased funding to the National Institutes of Health for Alzheimer’s disease research and advocated for passage of the “Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act,” which would strengthen public health systems’ ability to meet the needs of those living with the Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.
“Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are among the greatest public health challenges facing older Americans. As our population ages, the number of people living with the disease and their caregivers will only grow,” said Senator Casey. “That’s why I will continue fighting to increase Alzheimer’s research funding to find a cure. Bipartisan legislation, like the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, is also needed to ensure those living with the disease and those caring for them have the support they need.”
The Honorable Teresa Osborne, Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging, testified before the committee at the invitation of Sen. Casey about Pennsylvania’s state plan for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
“In Pennsylvania, we believe the Alzheimer’s trajectory can be influenced and changed by increasing our country’s commitment to Alzheimer’s research, building an Alzheimer’s public health infrastructure, and leveraging Older American’s Act services to bend the cost curve on the growing costs associated with caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Osborne.
Alzheimer’s is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly inhibits brain function. It is the most common form of dementia and has no cure.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 5.5 million Americans ages 65 and over are currently living with Alzheimer’s.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately 280,000 Pennsylvanians have Alzheimer’s disease.
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