Congress officially declares war on Alzheimer’s

The House of Representatives came to a unanimous decision to pass the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA). The last step required is simply for President Obama to sign, which is expected to happen soon.

The goals of the act are:

(1) Accelerate the development of treatments that would prevent, halt, or reverse the course of Alzheimer's;

(2) Create and maintain an integrated national plan to overcome Alzheimer's;

(3) Help to coordinate the health care and treatment of citizens with Alzheimer's;

(4) Ensure the inclusion of ethnic and racial populations that are at higher risk for Alzheimer's or that are least likely to receive care in clinical, research, and service efforts with the purpose of decreasing health disparities;

(5) Coordinate with international bodies to integrate and inform the fight against Alzheimer's globally; and

(6) Provide information and coordination of Alzheimer's research and services across all federal agencies. Sets forth the duties of the Director of the Office, including to use discretionary authority to evaluate all federal programs concerning Alzheimer's. Establishes in the Office an Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research and Treatment.

For more information, visit, the Alzheimer's Association's page on NAPA's development.