THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY REICHLEY, KORTZ, ADOLPH, BAKER, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CUTLER, DALEY, DAVIS, DEASY, DeLUCA, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, EVERETT, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLEN, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, KAVULICH, M. K. KELLER, KNOWLES, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARSICO, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MOUL, MULLERY, MUNDY, OBERLANDER, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PAYNE, PRESTON, QUINN, RAPP, RAVENSTAHL, READSHAW, ROCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCHRODER, SONNEY, STABACK, SWANGER, TALLMAN, THOMAS, TOOHIL, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD, CURRY AND DENLINGER, NOVEMBER 1, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, NOVEMBER 1, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Designating November 2011 as "Alzheimer's Disease Awareness

Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain

disorder; and

WHEREAS, This degenerative brain disorder destroys cells and

nerves, disrupting the transmitters which carry messages in the

brain; and

WHEREAS, Disruption of the transmitters affects a person's

ability to remember, speak, think and make decisions; and

WHEREAS, Every 70 seconds in the United States another person

is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that 5.3 million Americans now have

the disease; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Public Policy Coalition of the

Alzheimer's Association (PPPCAA) estimates as many as 400,000

Pennsylvanians have Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia;

and

WHEREAS, Seventy percent of Alzheimer's disease care is

provided by friends or family members; and

WHEREAS, According to PPPCAA, more than one million

Pennsylvanians are ultimately affected by Alzheimer's disease

and related dementias through affliction or acting as a

caregiver; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease-related costs to Medicare,

Medicaid and businesses in this Commonwealth exceed $6 billion

annually; and

WHEREAS, The tragic personal toll and associated financial

costs of Alzheimer's disease are expected to increase as the

average age of this Commonwealth's population continues to rise;

and

WHEREAS, Despite the painstaking efforts of researchers,

medical science has not found a treatment or cure for

Alzheimer's disease; and

WHEREAS, Finding a treatment to delay the onset of

Alzheimer's disease by five years could reduce the number of

individuals with the disease by nearly 50%; and

WHEREAS, Continued Alzheimer's disease awareness and

caregiver support are critical as the medical community

continues to search for a treatment and cure for the disease;

and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's Association has designated November 2011

as "National Alzheimer's Month"; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate

November 2011 as "Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month" in

Pennsylvania to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease in this

Commonwealth.