At a cost of $236 billion a year, Alzheimer's is the most expensive disease in the nation. Nearly one in every five Medicare dollars is spent on people with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. These costs will only continue to increase as baby boomers age, soaring to more than $1 trillion in 2050.
Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the U.S. that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. Today, more than 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. Barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, stop or slow Alzheimer's disease by 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease may reach as high as 16 million people.
Alzheimer's disease is a growing crisis for our families and the economy. The federal government must address the challenges the disease poses and take bold action to confront this epidemic now.
My family has suffered terribly with the crippling effects of both Alzheimer's and Lewy Body Disease. Very few of my neighbors and friends are not tragically affected by a loved one with some form of dementia.
Please contact Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, or your own representative in Congress and ask him or her to intensify the fight against Alzheimer's disease through increased funding for Alzheimer's research by at least an additional $400 million in fiscal year 2017. With these additional funds, there is hope that this disease can be conquered.
Cara Ehrlich, Cockeysville