WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) today introduced the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act. This bipartisan legislation would create a public health infrastructure to combat Alzheimer’s disease and preserve brain health. Representatives Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
 
“Alzheimer’s is such a devastating disease that affects millions of Americas and their loved ones, and the more we can do to find a cure, the better. At the same time, we must also do what we can to ease the pain of those suffering and provide help to caregivers, taking a truly comprehensive approach to this fight,” Senator Capito said. “By creating a public health infrastructure, this bipartisan legislation will help us tackle Alzheimer’s on all fronts and move us closer to finding a cure.”
 
The legislation would apply a public health approach to Alzheimer’s disease by establishing a modern infrastructure for the prevention, treatment and care of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Headed by the Centers of Disease and Prevention (CDC), it would create:
  

  • Centers of Excellence in Public Health Practice dedicated to promoting effective Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving interventions, as well as educating the public on Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline and brain health. The centers would implement the CDC’s Healthy Aging Public Health Road Map and would take key steps to support health and social services professionals, as well as families and communities. This bill would authorize $12 million for centers across the nation.
     
  • Core Capacity and Enhanced Activity Cooperative Agreements with the CDC would be awarded to State Health Departments to carry out key steps. Core capacity awards would help states build a foundation, and enhanced activity awards would help those states that are carrying out public health Alzheimer’s steps to amplify their initiatives through public-private partnerships. $20 million would be authorized for this process.
      
  • Data Analysis and Reporting Cooperative Agreements with CDC would ensure that data on Alzheimer’s, cognitive decline, caregiving, and health disparities are analyzed and disseminated to the public in a timely manner. This legislation authorizes $5 million for such agreements.

 
The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act is supported by the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, and the National Association of Counties. 
 
For a one-pager on the bill, click here.
 
To read the full text of the bill click here.

 

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