Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the United States House of Representatives passed the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, bipartisan legislation that she introduced with Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) to create a modern public health infrastructure for the prevention, treatment, and care of Alzheimer’s and related cognitive disorders. The Senate passed the legislation unanimously last week.
“Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia continue to devastate the lives of more than five million Americans. Many families in Nevada, and across the country, must balance their daily lives with caring and supporting their loved ones managing Alzheimer’s” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to see my bipartisan legislation pass Congress. The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act will improve early detection and diagnosis, provide assistance for caregivers and educate the public on Alzheimer’s disease and brain health. This bipartisan legislation is the first step in addressing the ongoing public health crisis that is expected to affect 16 million Americans by 2050 if we don’t act now. I will continue to advocate for legislation to improve the quality of life for Alzheimer’s patients and support their families.”
“Alzheimer’s disease is one of the greatest and most under-recognized public health threats of our time. Millions of Americans and thousands of Mainers are living with the disease, and that number is soaring as our overall population grows older and lives longer,” said Senator Collins, a founder and Senate co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. “After decades of increasing investments in biomedical research for Alzheimer’s, we are ready for the next step: to translate research into practice. The BOLD Act takes a multi-pronged public health approach that will create a modern infrastructure for the prevention, treatment, and care of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. I am proud of the overwhelming bipartisan support our legislation received in Congress and in communities across the nation. BOLD brings us to the brink of a brighter day for Alzheimer’s, and I look forward to it being signed into law.”
BACKGROUND:
The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act would apply a public health approach to reduce risk, detect early symptoms, advance care, improve data, and ultimately change the trajectory of this devastating disease. Headed by the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), it would authorize $20 million annually over the next five years to establish:
- Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Public Health Centers of Excellence dedicated to promoting effective Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving interventions as well as educating the public on Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline, and brain health. The centers would implement the CDC’s Healthy Aging Public Health Road Map, and would take key steps to support health and social services professionals as well as families and communities.
- Cooperative Agreements with the CDC that would be awarded to State Health Departments to help them meet local needs in promoting brain health, reducing risk of cognitive decline, improving care for those with Alzheimer’s, and other key public health activities.
- Data Grants to improve the analysis and timely reporting of data on Alzheimer’s, cognitive decline, caregiving, and health disparities at the state and national levels.
To read the full text of the bill, click HERE.