Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care and Services Announced

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of the National Alzheimer's Project Act, which was signed into law in January by President Obama, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the members of the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care and Services. Harry Johns, President and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association®, was among those selected to the Council.

The Advisory Council is charged with developing recommendations to improve the health outcomes for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias, and their families and to reduce the financial impact of Alzheimer's disease on individuals, families and the nation. The council will provide an annual assessment of all federally funded efforts in Alzheimer's research, care and services along with their outcomes.  

"Today an estimated 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. They are supported by nearly 15 million caregivers. Until the enactment of the National Alzheimer's Project Act, government attention to the Alzheimer's crisis has not reflected the rapidly growing human and economic burden of the disease for families and the federal budget," said Johns. "I am honored to serve on this council and contribute to developing a National Plan with outcome-driven objectives, recommendations and clear accountability to comprehensively address Alzheimer's disease and its devastating effects."

Throughout the summer, the Association and its chapters have been holding more than 100 public input sessions across the nation to gather the views and perspectives of stakeholders across the Alzheimer's community about what must be addressed in the National Alzheimer's Plan. The Association has held three national input sessions attended by officials from the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services. At the beginning of August, more than 30,000 individuals took part in a Teletown Hall to offer their views on a national plan.  

"Since the passage of the National Alzheimer's Project Act and through these public input sessions, we have heard from thousands of people who have shared their views on what should be included in a national plan – individuals with Alzheimer's, caregivers, physicians, researchers, providers, and people of all ages from urban and rural settings," continued Johns.  "Given the millions of Americans projected to develop this debilitating and fatal disease in the coming years and the rapidly escalating economic and personal costs of care, changing the trajectory of Alzheimer's is critical for all Americans. The work of this Advisory Council is central to that effort."

Input that the Alzheimer's Association has gathered from the hundreds of input sessions it has hosted will be compiled into a report that will be presented to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and to the Advisory Council upon its completion.

The 22-member Advisory Council includes federal representation from the Surgeon General and officials from the Administration on Aging, the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Food and Drug Administration, the Indian Health Service, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit www.alz.org.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Association