AfricanAmericansAgainstAlzheimer's Statement in Support of Hillary Clinton's Plan on Alzheimer's Disease

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stephanie Monroe, Executive Director of AfricanAmericansAgainstAlzheimer's, released the following statement in support of Hillary Clinton's plan to effectively treat, prevent and cure Alzheimer's disease by 2025. Read statements from all of UsAgainstAlzheimer's networks here.

"Hillary Clinton took a bold step on behalf of millions of families plagued with Alzheimer's by announcing her strong support for what the experts have told us is missing in the fight for a cure by 2025: adequate funding. Alzheimer's impacts over 5.4 million with the disease, their 17 million caregivers, and the entirety of our medical, social service and other community supports systems.  

Alzheimer's is the disease of the decade, yet has only captured the attention of two Presidential candidates, Mike Huckabee and now Hillary Clinton.  Hopefully the others will soon follow suit.  In September the former Arkansas Governor said that the U.S. should declare a war on Alzheimer's, cancer, and other diseases, arguing that only the government 'has a vested interest in curing disease because it will bankrupt Medicare and Medicaid.'

The Clinton plan focuses on four critical elements: a significant increase in federal funding for Alzheimer's research to $2 billion a year; a commitment to finding an effective treatment by 2025; a focus on Latinos, African Americans, and women who are disproportionately impacted by the disease; and essential support for caregivers who shoulder an almost impossible burden when caring for families and loved ones with the disease.

We launched AfricanAmericansAgainstAlzheimer's to raise awareness and attention to the fact that Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death for all Americans but the fourth for older African Americans.  Its cost is having a devastating impact on two-generational families as 33 percent of the costs of Alzheimer's is born by blacks who comprise only 13 percent of the population.  Alzheimer's is more than just losing memories.  It is about losing the potential and productivity of millions who have endured decades of struggle to make it to this place.  We owe a cure to these families and need every Presidential candidate to commit to making this happen."

African Americans Against Alzheimer's aims to unify the powerful voice of the African American community in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. The network arms African Americans and others who are committed to our mission with the information and easy-to-use connections needed to be heard by the public, in Washington and in state capitals, and by industry leaders and the research community. Their goal is to engage and connect a network of individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to mobilize the energy of African Americans in advocacy efforts that advance our national commitment to ending Alzheimer's.

UsAgainstAlzheimer's (UsA2) is a relentless force committed to ending Alzheimer's by 2020. Driven by the suffering of millions of families, UsAgainstAlzheimer's presses for greater urgency from government, industry and the scientific community in the quest for an Alzheimer's and strategic investments, including through our AfricanAmericansAgainstAlzheimer's, LatinosAgainstAlzheimer's, and WomenAgainstAlzheimer's.

CONTACT: Ranit Schmelzer, 202-538-1065, [email protected]