Time to recognize public health crisis of Alzheimer's
The Jonesboro SunNov 25, 2017
Time to recognize public health crisis of Alzheimer's
It is time we change our thinking on Alzheimer's disease. Too often,, Alzheimer's is treated as an aging issue but, similar to other diseases, Alzheimer's has a broad impact on communities. As such, it is more than just a health problem, but rather because the burden is large, the impact is major, and there are ways to intervene. Alzheimer's is a public health crisis. The burden is large and growing. Today, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. In
"My wife and I have been primary caregivers for my mother for several years," said Arkansas Alzheimer's advocate
Now,
Public health works on a population level to protect and improve the health and safety of an entire community or group of people. By working with diverse communities, public health expands the reach and impact of health care efforts. Passing the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act would multiply our efforts to care for those living with the disease, improve care quality, provide enhanced support for caregivers and allow us to better understand the disease.Specifically, the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act would establish Alzheimer's Centers of Excellence around the country to expand and promote innovative and effective Alzheimer's interventions. It would also provide funding to state, local and tribal public health departments to implement the Public Health Road Map and to promote cognitive health, risk reduction, early detection and diagnosis, and the needs of caregivers. Public health officials can use the traditional tools and techniques of public health to improve the quality of life for those living with Alzheimer's and to reduce the costs associated with it.
The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act would also increase collection, analysis and timely reporting of data on cognitive decline and caregiving. This data is critical to identifying opportunities for public health interventions, helping stakeholders track progress in the public health response and enabling state and federal policymakers to make informed decisions when developing plans and policies. This bipartisan bill is already receiving support in