BOLD Follow-Up
Thank you for printing my December 22 letter to the editor containing a call to action for the president to pass the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act into law in the January 3 edition.
I am thrilled to report that BOLD was passed into law on December 31, which will mean a higher quality of life while reducing costs for those with Alzheimer’s disease.
In California Alzheimer’s is the third leading cause of death. Women are two-thirds of those diagnosed—and women are two-thirds of all caregivers as well. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias cost the nation $277 billion in 2018, and by 2050, these costs could rise as high as $1.1 trillion.
No one is immune to Alzheimer’s, a disease that cannot be prevented or cured.
Implementation of BOLD will increase early detection and diagnosis, reduce risk, prevent avoidable hospitalizations, reduce health disparities, support the needs of caregivers, and support care planning for those living with this disease.
Pacific Palisades legislators Representative Ted Lieu and Senators Feinstein and Harris each co-sponsored BOLD.
While we await the implementation of this key piece of legislation, it is important to know that support for anyone facing Alzheimer’s disease is available 24/7 via the Alzheimer’s Association Helpline at 800-272-3900.
Pacific Palisades is served by the California Southland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org/socal).
Adele Carter
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