BILL WOULD CREATE NATIONAL OFFICE TO TREAT AND PREVENT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

 WASHINGTON, D.C. –Representatives Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.), House co-chairs of the Bipartisan, Bicameral Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, today announced the introduction the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (N.A.P.A.), H.R.4689. This bill would create the first National Alzheimer’s Project Office for Alzheimer’s, which would coordinate government efforts to treat and prevent the disease. The Office, which would be located within the Department of Health and Human Services, would coordinate and oversee federal research on Alzheimer’s disease.

“This bill is intended to intensify the battle to treat and prevent Alzheimer's disease, which is now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States,” said Markey. “The legislation would help ensure that the federal government better coordinates all of the research and clinical programs dealing with Alzheimer's.”

“Unless science finds a way to prevent or cure it, nearly 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2050. That is going to devastate the families who have a loved one afflicted with the disease.  It will also drain billions in treatment costs from Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health programs,” Rep. Markey said.

“I am very pleased to join my friend Ed Markey in introducing N.A.P.A.,” said Rep. Smith. “With over 5 million individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s in the US and the number increasing by over 450,000 new cases per year, Alzheimer’s may be unique or is one of only a couple of conditions in the degree to which its costs in dollars and physical and emotional suffering will – if something is not done – so completely overwhelm our national resources to cope.  That is why this legislation to establish a project office under the Secretary of DHHS to coordinate Alzheimer’s efforts nationally and with international colleagues is so necessary.”

Under the legislation, the Office will provide strategic planning and coordination for the fight against Alzheimer’s disease across the federal government.

Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN.) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME.)

Full text of the bill can be found here: http://markey.house.gov/docs/napa.pdf

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