Guthrie's Alzheimer’s Bill Signed Into Law

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Last week, President Donald Trump signed into law Congressman Brett Guthrie’s (KY-02) Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (H.R. 4256/S. 2076) into law.
 
“Alzheimer’s disease is devastating on multiple levels: For the person who suffers with it, and for the families and friends who must help their loved ones fight this terrible disease,” said Guthrie. “As the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s – currently over 5 million people – is expected to rise, we need more information about what causes it and how to help treat it. I was proud to introduce the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act to address this need. I want to thank the many advocates in Kentucky and the around the country who are fighting Alzheimer’s every day, my fellow members of Congress and the Senate for supporting this bill, and President Trump for signing the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act into law. I look forward to seeing this bill implemented, and I will continue to support Alzheimer’s research in Congress.”
 
The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act will create a public health infrastructure to support prevention, treatment, and care for patients with Alzheimer’s and related neurological diseases. Guthrie introduced the bipartisan House bill with Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20), and the Senate companion was introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). Following its passage in the House and Senate late last year, President Trump signed the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act into law last week.
 
Specifically, the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act will:

Build an Alzheimer’s and related dementias network by establishing Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Public Health Centers of Excellence and awarding cooperative agreements to public health departments, which will help the Centers and state, local and tribal public health departments develop and carry out Alzheimer’s interventions. This crucial support will help the Centers and public health departments across the country strengthen their efforts aimed at increasing early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk, and preventing unnecessary hospitalizations of people living with Alzheimer's and related dementias.   

​Require robust data analysis and reporting through Cooperative Agreements with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that will ensure data on Alzheimer’s, cognitive decline, caregiving, and health disparities are analyzed and disseminated to the public in a timely manner.