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Letter: Boost funds to study Alzheimer’s

The Columbian
Published: April 24, 2015, 5:00pm

There are 15.7 million Americans caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, including more than 300,000 here in Washington. I am one of those people. As a caregiver and Alzheimer’s ambassador, it is my privilege to represent them to our elected officials.

In addition to being the sixth leading cause of death, Alzheimer’s is also the most expensive disease in the nation, costing families and taxpayers a total of $226 billion in 2015. That number will grow to $1.1 trillion by 2050.

More than 1,000 advocates from all 50 states attended the Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C., where they met with members of Congress and requested immediate action on Alzheimer’s disease. I want to thank Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, for meeting with advocates to discuss this crisis. I hope we can count on her support in increasing Alzheimer’s research funding by $300 million in fiscal year 2016. We must simultaneously support the families currently facing this disease.

I urge the congresswoman to co-sponsor the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act (HR 1559/SB 857), which will provide critical care planning to people newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. When you consider the annual cost of treating Alzheimer’s, the price for research is money well spent. Contact Herrera Beutler and ask her to support Alzheimer’s funding. Visit alz.org/advocacy to get involved with the fight against Alzheimer’s.

(Figures contained in this letter are at www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp.)

Sandy Bacus

Stevenson

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