Fiscal Note
No fiscal impact.
Title
Recognizing June as National Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month and June 20, 2021, as The Longest Day
Body
WHEREAS, today, there are 50 million people living with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia worldwide, and 6 million of those are Americans; and,
WHEREAS, by 2050, someone in the United States will develop Alzheimer’s every 22 seconds; and,
WHEREAS, there are currently more than 120,000 people with Alzheimer’s living in the state of Wisconsin, over 7,000 of whom are in Dane County with most people cared for by their loved ones or a professional caregiver; and,
WHEREAS, Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disease, and it is currently the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S.; and,
WHEREAS, on June 7, 2021, the Food And Drug Administration approved the first treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, this is the “first ever FDA-approved treatment for the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s, not just the symptoms”; and,
WHEREAS, while researchers are working hard to find ways to accurately diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease, we need to aggressively fund research in order to meet the National Plan to find a cure and treatment by 2025; and,
WHEREAS, currently as many as half of those living with Alzheimer’s disease are not diagnosed and for many of those who are diagnosed, the diagnosis occurs at the late stages of dementia; and,
WHEREAS, in 2021, 11 million family members and friends provided 15.3 billion hours of unpaid care to people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias at an economic value of more than $257 billion; and,
WHEREAS, the Alzheimer’s Association recognizes June 20th as “The Longest Day” asking people to team up with the Alzheimer’s Association and select any activity they love - or an activity loved by those affected - to help end Alzheimer’s and raise awareness for care and support while advancing research toward the first survivor of Alzheimer’s;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council recognize June as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month and June 20, 2021, as The Longest Day, and ask residents of Madison to visit www.alz.org to learn more about Alzheimer’s and become part of the effort to end this disease.