Today more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and more than 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with this disease.
Approximately 5% of those Americans have younger onset. Sara, the co-author of this letter, has younger onset and is just 56. She has just started her fourth medical trial.
The drugs for Alzheimer’s are much more sophisticated now compared to three years ago when we started down this path. Today more than $3.1 billion is spent on Alzheimer’s research. The new medicine Sara is testing will promote brain cell growth and repair damaged brain cells.
We thank Rep. Guy Reschenthaler and Sen. Bob Casey, who have led the way in Washington, D.C. We want them and all Pennsylvania representatives to join the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease.
You can find the Alzheimer’s Association 2021 Facts and Figures at www.alz.org/facts. If you are a caregiver and need help, call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-hour Helpline at 800-272-3900.
Please consider participating in our local Walk to End Alzheimer’s scheduled for Sept. 18 at Twin Lakes Park in Unity.
Don and Sara Belt
Greensburg