"Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that takes a tremendous personal and economic toll on both the individual and the family. As someone whose family has experienced the pain of Alzheimer's, I know that there is no more helpless feeling than to watch the progression of this dreadful disease. It is an agonizing experience to look into the eyes of a loved one only to receive a confused look in return," said Senator Collins, the Senate co-Chair of the Bipartisan Task Force on Alzheimer''s Disease. "Our country's investment in Alzheimer's disease research has begun to pay dividends—effective treatments and a possible vaccine are tantalizingly within our grasp. If we are to keep up the momentum we have established, we must increase our investment in Alzheimer's disease research. This legislation will serve as a living tribute to President Reagan and will offer hope to all of those suffering from the disease today."
The bill introduced in the Senate today will double the authorization levels for Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health from the current funding of $700 million to $1.4 million. Further, the bill provides much needed support for Alzheimer's patients and their families by increasing funding for the National Family Caregiver Support Program and by providing a tax credit of up to $3,000 to help families meet the costs of caring for a loved one with long-term care needs.
An estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, more than double the number in 1980. Moreover, the United States spends more than $100 billion per year in costs associated with Alzheimer's disease, primarily in nursing home and other long-term care costs. This figure will only increase exponentially as the baby boom generation ages. As the baby boomers move into the years of highest risk for Alzheimer's disease, a strong and sustained research effort is the best tool to slow down the progression and prevent the onset of this terrible disease.
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