Alzheimer’s affects everyone, including you.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most expensive disease in America, costing an estimated $290 billion in 2019. It is the only leading cause of death without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression.

In 2019, there are an estimated 280,000 Pennsylvanians under the age of 65 living with Alzheimer’s disease, and 5.8 million Americans nationwide.

On April 2, 2019, my fellow advocates and I took our story to Washington, D.C. We spoke of the impact Alzheimer’s has on Pennsylvania and the nation with Congressman John Joyce and his legislative staff.

My daughter, AnnMarie, and I shared our experience as advocates seeing how this devastating disease impacted my grandfather and my mother, his caregiver. We asked Joyce to be our voice in Washington.

In order to change the trajectory of this disease, we need Congress to fund Alzheimer’s and dementia research at the National Institutes of Health and fund the CDC so that the BOLD Act can be implemented.

We need improved access to care planning and to support all persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, not only those aged 65 and older.

Please support our efforts and ask Joyce to support/cosponsor both Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act AND Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s Act. Remind your congressmen that funding the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act and Alzheimer’s and dementia research is crucial.

Together we will #ENDALZ.

Lori and AnnMarie Pfiester

Altoona