“Alzheimer’s Disease: Confronting The Challenges Ahead”
Nearly 30,000 people in Maine have Alzheimer’s disease. An estimated five million are afflicted nationwide. Tragically, that number that has doubled since 1980 and it continues to grow. This terrible disease takes a tremendous toll on both the individual and the family. As someone whose family has experienced the pain of Alzheimer’s, I know that there is nothing more agonizing than to look into the eyes of a loved one only to receive a confused look in return.
In addition to the suffering and heartbreak, Alzheimer’s often imposes considerable economic hardships. Alzheimer’s costs the United States just under $150 billion a year, primarily in nursing home and other long-term care costs. This figure will increase exponentially as the baby boom generation ages. As the baby boomers move into the years of highest risk for Alzheimer’s, a strong and sustained research effort is our best tool to slow its progression and ultimately to prevent its onset.
As the co-chair of the Senate Task Force on Alzheimer’s disease, I am a strong advocate of increased funding for Alzheimer’s research. Our investments in Alzheimer’s disease research have begun to pay dividends. Effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and a possible vaccine are tantalizingly within our grasp. Moreover, if scientists can find a way to delay the onset of this devastating disease for even five years, our
nation will save at least $50 billion in annual health and long-term care costs and an incalculable amount in human suffering. But if we are to keep up the momentum we have established, however, we must redouble our efforts. We have made tremendous progress, but this is no time to take our foot off the accelerator.
Our efforts recently received a powerful boost with the formation of the Alzheimer’s Disease Study Group, a new independent, non-partisan panel that will join our efforts to advance the cause of Alzheimer’s prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. I was proud to join my Task Force co-chairman, Senator Hillary Clinton, in announcing the creation of this Study Group, which will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of our nation’s current efforts and to identify the strategies necessary to move us forward.
This new Study Group will be led by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey. Given their creative intelligence and deep understanding of health and aging issues, I believe that they are uniquely suited to meet this challenge and lead an independent effort to identify fresh opportunities and find a
new way forward in our battle against Alzheimer’s disease. I commend them for taking on this important work, and look forward to hearing the Study Group’s recommendations for a comprehensive national strategy.
While we have made progress in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, we can not sit back and continue to pay the bills and endure the suffering. With our continued commitment and the insight this new Study Group will provide, we will continue to aggressively pursue a national strategy aimed at preventing, delaying and even curing this devastating and debilitating disease.
In addition to the suffering and heartbreak, Alzheimer’s often imposes considerable economic hardships. Alzheimer’s costs the United States just under $150 billion a year, primarily in nursing home and other long-term care costs. This figure will increase exponentially as the baby boom generation ages. As the baby boomers move into the years of highest risk for Alzheimer’s, a strong and sustained research effort is our best tool to slow its progression and ultimately to prevent its onset.
As the co-chair of the Senate Task Force on Alzheimer’s disease, I am a strong advocate of increased funding for Alzheimer’s research. Our investments in Alzheimer’s disease research have begun to pay dividends. Effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and a possible vaccine are tantalizingly within our grasp. Moreover, if scientists can find a way to delay the onset of this devastating disease for even five years, our
nation will save at least $50 billion in annual health and long-term care costs and an incalculable amount in human suffering. But if we are to keep up the momentum we have established, however, we must redouble our efforts. We have made tremendous progress, but this is no time to take our foot off the accelerator.
Our efforts recently received a powerful boost with the formation of the Alzheimer’s Disease Study Group, a new independent, non-partisan panel that will join our efforts to advance the cause of Alzheimer’s prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. I was proud to join my Task Force co-chairman, Senator Hillary Clinton, in announcing the creation of this Study Group, which will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of our nation’s current efforts and to identify the strategies necessary to move us forward.
This new Study Group will be led by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey. Given their creative intelligence and deep understanding of health and aging issues, I believe that they are uniquely suited to meet this challenge and lead an independent effort to identify fresh opportunities and find a
new way forward in our battle against Alzheimer’s disease. I commend them for taking on this important work, and look forward to hearing the Study Group’s recommendations for a comprehensive national strategy.
While we have made progress in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, we can not sit back and continue to pay the bills and endure the suffering. With our continued commitment and the insight this new Study Group will provide, we will continue to aggressively pursue a national strategy aimed at preventing, delaying and even curing this devastating and debilitating disease.
