Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health issue. More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s at a cost to the nation of more than $345 billion per year. By 2050, the costs are projected to reach just under $1 trillion, and nearly 13 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s. But recognizing that there are successful public health interventions, Congress is taking bold action to improve brain health in our communities by reauthorizing the bipartisan Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (P.L.115-406). 

Since 2018, thanks to this important law, public health departments across the nation have had the resources to improve brain health across the life course. But with this important law set to expire in 2024, AIM is calling on Congress to ensure this critical work continues.

Earlier this month, the House and Senate introduced the bipartisan BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act (S. 3775 / H.R. 7218). This bill will continue strengthening the Alzheimer’s and other dementia public health infrastructure by empowering public health departments to implement effective dementia interventions in our communities such as increasing early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk, and supporting the needs of caregivers.

Since 2018, the CDC has made 66 awards to 45 state, local and tribal health departments. In 2023, the CDC announced 43 BOLD award recipients, the most in a single year since BOLD was signed into law. These award recipients are working to implement public health strategies that promote brain health, address dementia, and support individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.

Because of BOLD, even more public health professionals in communities throughout the country are taking action on strategies that improve brain health across the life course. Continuing to invest in a nationwide Alzheimer’s public health response will help create population-level improvements, achieve a higher quality of life for those living with the disease and their caregivers, and reduce associated costs. AIM urges Congress to continue this great progress by advancing the BOLD Reauthorization Act.

Shortly after its introduction, we were encouraged that the BOLD Reauthorization Act was included in a House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee legislative hearing along with AIM’s other top priorities, the NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act. Joanne Pike, DrPH, Alzheimer’s Association president and CEO and AIM CEO, testified and urged support for these key policy priorities at the hearing. 

Take action today to continue this momentum by urging your member of Congress to support the BOLD Reauthorization Act and strengthen the public health infrastructure for Alzheimer’s and other dementia.