A bipartisan measure that would create a public health infrastructure to combat Alzheimer's disease and preserve brain health has been introduced by Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
In a speech on the Senate floor Monday, Collins said the so-called BOLD act would apply a public health approach to Alzheimer's disease, which she says is one of the greatest, most under-recognized threats.
"Five-and-a-half million Americans are living with the disease," she said, "and that number will soar as our population continues to grow older and lives longer."
Collins said that Alzheimer's is also the nation's most costly disease.
The BOLD act would create centers across the country to promote effective Alzheimer's caregiving intervention and education. It would also award money to state health departments to help with the effort, and ensure that data is analyzed and disseminated to the public in a timely manner.
"After decades of expanding much-needed biomedical research on Alzheimer's, we are ready for the next step: to translate research into policy," Collins said.
