A Letter to the Editor

My name is Deanne Alexander and I have been an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association for over 8 years.
This holiday season, I am reflecting with gratitude on the progress we have made in the fight to end Alzheimer’s.

I became an advocate when my mother Jane was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012. Our family was devastated andwere lost as to how we should move forward, looking for help and information to provide her with the best of care.

I have watched the progress the Alzheimer’s Associationhas made by accelerating their efforts to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s and other related dementias.
This trajectory can stem back to the passage of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) and the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act (AAA). NAPA created the first-ever national plan to address this disease and AAA created a bypass process for Congress to hear directly from researchers on the funding needed to discover scientific breakthroughs.

Unfortunately, these bills are set to expire in 2025! I amcalling for Representative Danny Davis to cosponsor and support the passage of the NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability & investment Act.

I am one of over 11 million Americans, including 312,00 who are serving as caregivers in Illinois. My mother Jane was one of the 6 million Americans who are living with this horrific disease, including 230,000 in Illinois!

Please join me and the Alzheimer’s Association in encouraging Congressman Danny Davis to renew our nations commitment to the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementias by supporting the NAPA and Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act.

Together we can help find a cure for Alzheimer’s and all other dementia’s–but we can’t stop now!

For more information on our fight, please visit www.alzimpact.org.