Dear Editor:
Currently more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including approximately 170,000 here in New Jersey. Those numbers will skyrocket by mid-century as the baby boomers age, unless a cure or effective treatment is found.
I know first-hand the heartbreak Alzheimer’s can bring. As the Primary Caregiver for my mom for nearly 16 years, I can personally attest to the devastation and toll this takes not only on the afflicted individual and caregiver, but to the entire family unit and loved ones, as well. My involvement personally, professionally, and globally with Alzheimer’s disease has given me opportunities to advocate on behalf of all those battling with this horror.
In addition to the physical and emotional struggle Alzheimer’s takes on individuals and families, it is the most expensive disease in the Nation. Nearly one in five Medicare dollars is spent on a person living with Alzheimer’s, but less than 2 percent of the NIH budget goes toward Alzheimer’s research. Adequate research funding is imperative if we are to find an effective treatment and cure and reduce the escalating costs of care for our Nation.
Alzheimer’s is a truly bipartisan issue. Defeating it must become a national priority, regardless of which candidate wins the upcoming mid-term election. We cannot afford to lose another generation to this calamitous disease.
To learn how you can join the fight against Alzheimer’s, visit alz.org.
Rosita M. McGovern
Public Policy Ambassador for Greater New Jersey Chapter
Jersey City