Alzheimer's Disease

Dear Citizens of DeKalb County,

As a health care professional, and one of the over 5.7 million Americans who has family members affected by Alzheimer’s disease, I know up close and personal the extreme need. We have to implement a bold plan to stop this disease and create awareness. We need to push for our legislators to take a stance on the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act.

Congress has a chance to take decisive action passing the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (S. 2076/H.R. 4256). This Act endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Association would create a public health infrastructure across the country to implement effective Alzheimer's interventions including increasing early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk and preventing avoidable hospitalizations.

Being an Alzheimer’s volunteer, I understand the disease’s impact and the physical and emotional costs of the disease. We must all must join with the Alzheimer’s Association to raise awareness of the risk factors, diagnosis, care and encourage others to “join the fight”!

It is time we change our thinking on Alzheimer’s disease. Too often, Alzheimer’s is treated as an aging issue. Therefore, we must continue to build awareness every chance we get. It is the 6th leading cause of death and we must change that fact!

Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in the U.S. costing the country more than $277 billion a year, which is why we need the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act. If we are going to end Alzheimer’s disease, then we must start treating it like the public health threat it is. Alzheimer’s…so many memories stolen and so many hearts broken. We need a cure!

Join me in asking our Congressman Hank Johnson, Senator Johnny Isakson and Senator David Perdue to fight for the millions of Americans affected by Alzheimer’s by sponsoring the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act.

Phyllis Kitchens Thurmond

Physical Therapist