By Tracy Steele

The Alzheimer’s Association hosted  its annual forum in Washington, D.C. this summer, and I was honored to attend as an advocate for Ohio's congressional district, proudly representing my loved ones, including my stepmom and husband, who inspire me every day. 

I recall the challenging time last November when I had to reach out for help to care for my stepmom after breaking my arm. Even in difficult moments, there's always hope and support with the help of the Alzheimer’s Association. I learned a great deal of information at the forum. Here are some highlights of information that I learned while at the forum which gave me hope as a caregiver!

Now is not the time to slow momentum in Alzheimer’s fight. At a time when more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, including more than 236,000 in Ohio, prioritizing how this devastating disease is addressed remains a critical issue for our country. 

Today, Alzheimer’s is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States and one of our country’s most expensive diseases.

These are among the many reasons we must work toward increased funding for research that would impact the lives of those living with Alzheimer’s as well as their caregivers. And with the recent development of several new treatments that actually focus on the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s, we know that after decades of attempts, science is getting ever closer to a cure.

We also need to ensure greater access to such future diagnostic methods and treatments as well as improving the quality of care for those with dementia.

That is why I am urging Congress, including Rep. Jim Jordan, Rep. Warren Davidson, Rep. Bob Latta, and their fellow congress members from Ohio, to support the bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act and Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act.

With the advent of future blood tests for key indicators of Alzheimer’s disease, I would argue that such blood tests give patients the same ability to seek early treatment and life changes that such diagnostic tests as pap smears, PSA screening and mammography have long been afforded to cancer patients via Medicare coverage. Easily accessible blood tests, such as P-Tau 217, can be utilized by informed and educated primary care physicians in conjunction with cognitive screening exams for much needed early diagnoses.