Reno, Nev. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a roundtable today with members of the State Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, the Dementia Friendly Nevada initiative, family caregivers and individuals living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Senator Cortez Masto heard from local caregivers and advocates about their experiences and highlighted federal efforts to support individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. She also discussed the unique challenges facing both urban and rural communities and the importance of community education and support programs.
“Alzheimer’s disease is an urgent public health crisis that affects more than 41,000 people in Nevada alone. I was honored to sit down with Alzheimer’s advocates, researchers, caregivers, and members of Nevada’s State Task Force on Alzheimer’s disease to speak about the challenges and experiences of those affected by dementia in our state. Nevada has taken important steps to address Alzheimer’s disease at the state and local level by advocating for better access to treatment services, improved quality of care and increased public awareness about the disease. As Nevada’s senator, it is my priority to ensure that the work Nevada advocates are doing to combat Alzheimer’s is being supported at the federal level. I will continue to fight in Congress to promote Alzheimer’s prevention, enhance access to treatment and support for families, improve patients’ quality of life and find ways to end Alzheimer’s before it claims more lives.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Cortez Masto is a cosponsor of the bipartisan BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, which would promote groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research and treatment options by establishing Centers of Excellence dedicated to promoting effective interventions and educating the public on Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline and brain health. The bill also directs the CDC to ensure that data on Alzheimer’s, cognitive decline, caregiving, and health disparities are analyzed and shared with the public.