x
Breaking News
More () »

Sen. Kaine's legislation to combat Alzheimer's signed into law

Legislation that will help combat Alzheimer’s disease and preserve brain health was signed into law.

For the first time, legislation was signed into law to create a public health infrastructure that will help combat Alzheimer’s disease and preserve brain health.

On December 31, 2018, the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act was signed into law. The legislation was authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Tim Kaine (D-VA).

The Act passed the Senate unanimously, and it passed the House 361-3.

The legislation offers a public health approach to reduce the risk, detect early symptoms, advance care, improve data, and ultimately change the trajectory of this devastating disease. The law allows $20 million annually over the next 5 years to create centers, generate data grants, and cooperative agreements with the CDC and State Health Departments.

About 5.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and the disease is costing the United States more than $277 billion per year, including $186 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid.

“I am thrilled that our bipartisan bill to strengthen our country’s response to Alzheimer’s was officially signed into law,” Senator Kaine said in a press release. “Too many families know what it’s like to have a loved one with Alzheimer’s, and I hope that our efforts will start to provide much-needed relief to those affected.”

The BOLD Act was introduced by the authored Senators last year. It was cosponsored by 58 Senators, and 181 organizations and individuals supported the Act.

Before You Leave, Check This Out