Bilirakis Meets with Local Medical Professionals Working with Alzheimer’s Patients and Other Senior Advocates

Lutz, Florida: This week, Congressman Gus Bilirakis met with local medical professionals who work with Alzheimer's patients throughout Tampa Bay and other senior advocates. They explained the serious hardships patients and caregivers face when trying to receive an accurate diagnosis, find treatment options, and seek long-term support as they grapple with this debilitating disease. In 2020, there were 580,000 Floridians aged 65 and older who had an Alzheimer's diagnosis. That figure is expected to grow by 24.1% before 2025. Throughout the nation, more than 6 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's. In addition to the human toll that patients and families are experiencing as a result of this disease, the cost to taxpayers to care for Alzheimer's patients continues to skyrocket. In 2021, an estimated $355 billion was spent on care for Americans with Alzheimer's. This figure is expected to grow to $1.1 trillion by 2050. The group of medical providers and advocates urged Congressional action to reauthorize the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) and to increase federal support of critical research into the causes, prevention and treatment of the disease.

"I appreciate the input from our local Alzheimer's community. We must raise awareness about the daily struggles Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers face as we strengthen the coalition of those supporting increased federal investment in critical research to find better treatments and a potential cure," said Congressman Bilirakis. "Together we can end this debilitating disease."