Third Alzheimer’s Association priority legislation signed into law this Congress
Washington, D.C., Dec. 11, 2024 — The bipartisan BOLD Reauthorization Act, legislation which will enable public health departments to implement effective dementia interventions, has been signed into law. The bill, which passed unanimously out of Congress, will reauthorize the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (P.L.115-406).
“In the five years since the initial BOLD Act was signed into law, public health departments across the country have been making a real-world impact by successfully implementing effective Alzheimer’s interventions, such as increasing early detection and diagnosis and reducing risk,” said Robert Egge, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) president and Alzheimer’s Association chief public policy officer. “Today’s reauthorization will build on this progress and expand the law’s impact further into communities.”
The BOLD Reauthorization Act was championed by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in the Senate, and Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) in the House.
“We are grateful to the bill’s sponsors for their tremendous bipartisan leadership in introducing the bipartisan BOLD Reauthorization Act, and their steadfast commitment to the Alzheimer’s and dementia community,” continued Egge.
The BOLD Act has been essential to creating and growing a public health infrastructure for dementia across the country. Through the law, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided funding to state, local and tribal public health departments to help them improve brain health in their communities. Since 2018, the CDC has made 66 awards to 45 state, local and tribal public health departments to help them implement effective dementia interventions such as reducing risk, increasing early detection and diagnosis, and supporting the needs of caregivers.
The BOLD Reauthorization Act is the third Alzheimer’s Association/AIM priority legislation to pass unanimously and be signed into law in the 118th Congress. In October, the NAPA Reauthorization Act (P.L. 118-92) and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (P.L. 118-93) were signed into law.
“Alzheimer’s isn’t a red issue or blue issue — it’s purple. And over the last decade Congress has shown true bipartisan leadership, taking strong action to address this growing crisis,” said Egge. “On behalf of those impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia, we thank these leaders and our relentless advocates who work everyday to change the trajectory of this devastating disease.”
