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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday the House passed Congressman Brett Guthrie’s (KY-02) Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (H.R. 4256/S. 2076) with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 361-3.

“Over 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s, and sadly, that number is only expected to go up. I have met with countless Kentuckians who either know someone with Alzheimer’s, or they themselves are suffering from Alzheimer’s,” said Guthrie. “The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act is an important step for helping those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias receive the best care possible.”

The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act will create a public health infrastructure to support prevention, treatment, and care for patients with Alzheimer’s and related diseases. Guthrie introduced the bipartisan House bill last year with Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20), and the Senate companion was introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). Following Senate passage last week and yesterday’s approval in the House, the bill will be presented to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.

“This new public health network will help those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias receive better care now and will lay the groundwork for future research into these debilitating diseases,” said Guthrie. “I want to thank the many advocates in the Second District of Kentucky who are leading the charge against Alzheimer’s. This bill would not have been successful without you. I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law so we can provide relief for people suffering from Alzheimer’s.”

Specifically, the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act will:

• Build an Alzheimer’s and related dementias network by establishing Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Public Health Centers of Excellence and awarding cooperative agreements to public health departments, which will help the Centers and state, local and tribal public health departments develop and carry out Alzheimer’s interventions. This crucial support will help the Centers and public health departments across the country strengthen their efforts aimed at increasing early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk, and preventing unnecessary hospitalizations of people living with Alzheimer's and related dementias. 
• Require robust data analysis and reporting through Cooperative Agreements with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that would ensure data on Alzheimer’s, cognitive decline, caregiving, and health disparities are analyzed and disseminated to the public in a timely manner.

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