WI Gov., First Lady Announce Grant For Fight Against Alzheimer's

MADISON, WI — Wisconsin is taking another step toward defeating Alzheimer's Disease, Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday.

Along with First Lady Kathy Evers, the governor announced Wisconsin is one of 15 public health programs across the nation to receive the Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Disease Grant (BOLD).

The funding comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a release, the governor said funding will be used to shore up and advance public health strategies for preventing, quickly diagnosing and managing cases of Alzheimer's, as well as supporting caregivers.

“Kathy and I are proud that DHS has been awarded this grant to build on the work that’s already being done across our state to care for the approximately 120,000 Wisconsinites living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, and look forward to the development of new and innovative approaches to address dementia in the future and provide support to the people caring for a loved one with this disease," Evers said in a statement.

The three year grant totals some $300,000. It's set to kick in on Wednesday.

The release states the state's DHS will partner with several public health organizations in the state. Partners include the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging, the Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education at the University of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Alzheimer’s Association Wisconsin Chapter's executive director, Dave Grams, said, "we are honored to partner with the Department of Health Services in creating a strong public health approach in Wisconsin to address Alzheimer’s disease, the sixth leading cause of death in the state."