To The Center

The U.S. hopes to have the first national plan to fight Alzheimer’s in effect by 2025.

Health and Human Services officials and medical experts are gathering in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday to work on the National Alzheimer’s Project Act.

Alzheimer’s Association president Harry Johns said, “What’s really important here is a comprehensive plan that deals with the needs of people who already have the disease.”

“I think the potential impact of this plan is huge. Given the economic problems, it’s a bit of a challenge, but this is our chance to make a bold statement,” added Ron Petersen, chairman of the NAPA non-federal advisory council and director of the Mayo Clinic’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

Fellow advisory board member George Vradenburg believes the plan needs to be implemented earlier.

He explained, “It’s the first time the government has talked about a time-based goal to stop Alzheimer’s. I’m going to urge we accelerate the time. I’m committed to 2020.”

Advisory member Dr. Jennifer Manly of Columbia University agrees with Vradenburg.

“We want to be bold. We think the difference of five years is incredibly meaningful,” she told the Associated Press.

Johns wants to accumulate $2 million for research, and he hopes that celebrities will be able to draw attention to the cause.

USA TODAY reports that last year Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summit and singer Glen Campbell announced that they were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. They also intend to work as long as they can.

“No (celebrity) has gone public with Alzheimer’s since Ronald Reagan, and when he announced it, we didn’t see much of him anymore,” Johns explained. “Pat and Glen going public have been watershed moments for the cause.”