Alzheimer's Month

Floor Speech

Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to discuss the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States of America and the fifth-leading cause of death for those aged 65 years and older. It's a disease more than 5 million Americans are living with and is the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States without a way to cure it or to slow its progression. It's a type of dementia that encompasses various diseases and conditions that damage brain cells--Alzheimer's disease.

September is Alzheimer's Month, a time spent by Alzheimer's advocates in promoting and educating on this life-changing disease.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, deaths from Alzheimer's increased close to 70 percent between 2000 and 2010. During that same time period, deaths from other major diseases, such as heart disease, decreased. In my home State of Pennsylvania, in 2010, more than 3,500 individuals died from Alzheimer's. My mom, Mary Thompson, suffered with Alzheimer's for 10 years as the disease slowly stole her memories, her dignity and, eventually, her life.

In 2010, Congress passed legislation to create a national plan to combat Alzheimer's disease. It established a National Alzheimer's Project within the Department of Health and Human Services in order to coordinate the country's approach to research and caregiving. This effort supports the amazing work being done through medical research and awareness to improve the lives of those who are living with Alzheimer's.

While awareness of Alzheimer's has grown over the last decade, America and the world have a long way to go to educate and combat this disease. Alzheimer's is a condition that most Americans have encountered through a parent, a loved one, a friend or someone close they care about. However, together, through continued advocacy, research and the dedicated work of health professionals, care providers and scientific researchers, we can and will make a difference.

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