Lee Terry: “I rise in support of S. 3036, the National Alzheimer's Project Act. Alzheimer's afflicts millions of Americans and their…”

“I rise in support of S. 3036, the National Alzheimer's Project Act. Alzheimer's afflicts millions of Americans and their families and friends. It is a personal tragedy for both patients and everyone who loves them. I had an opportunity to meet with the families during a support group just recently. I heard their stories about their loved ones slipping away with this form of dementia, and I heard their stories of the pressures and sadness it places on all of the families. NIH estimates that approximately 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, most of whom are over the age of 60. So there is a good chance that you or a friend of yours has a relative suffering from Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's disease forces families and friends to watch as loved ones, once independent and vivacious, suffer personality changes, a loss of independence and severe memory loss, such that they view those close to them as strangers. As difficult as it is to watch, it is that much harder on the patients. Those with Alzheimer's face an irreversible process in which they lose many of those things that define them as individuals.”