Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most under-recognized public health crises of the 21st century. More than 69,000 Iowans have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia and the fifth leading cause of death in Iowa. As our state’s population ages, it’s likely that all Iowans will be impacted by this disease at some point in their lives.
Caring for Alzheimer’s patients can be expensive. Payments for care nationwide in 2012 were estimated at $200 billion. That dollar figure is expected to increase to $1.1 trillion by 2050 if nothing is done.
What can we do? As a first step, the Senate approved SF 269, directing the Iowa Department of Public Health to develop a comprehensive Alzheimer’s disease response strategy. The goals include collecting and analyzing data on the disease, doing more to inform and educate Iowans, improving effectiveness and access to treatment, and maintaining affordability.