Assembly Resolution No. 2408

BY: M. of A. Rules (Woerner)

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
June 2024, as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months to help raise awareness about brain diseases, such as
Alzheimer's, and the need to increase efforts to combat its human and
economic costs; and

WHEREAS, In 1910, Alzheimer's disease was named after Alois
Alzheimer by his senior colleague, psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin, who used
the term 'Alzheimer's disease' in his book "Psychiatrie"; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative
brain disease that tragically leads to memory loss and cognitive decline
and is the most common type of dementia; and

WHEREAS, The National Institute on Aging defines dementia as the
loss of the cognitive functions such as thinking, remembering, and
reasoning to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily
live and activities; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 1980, The Alzheimer's Association is the leading
organization in Alzheimer's care and research whose mission is to work
globally, nationally and locally to enhance the care and support of all
those affected by Alzheimer's and other dementias; and

WHEREAS, President Ronald Regan initiated the observance of
Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month in 1983 to not only raise
awareness about Alzheimer's, but to also get people involved in the
recognition of the diseases as well as the types of care required by
someone suffering from it; and

WHEREAS, Nearly seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer's
and more than 11 million provide their unpaid care; and

WHEREAS, Age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease
which has no known cause or cure, however, there are strategies to help
prevent and treat dementias that can help improve the prognoses of
people living with these conditions; and

WHEREAS, According to the latest statistics (2020), the number of
people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's in New York is 426,500 which
is 12% of that 65 and older population; and

WHEREAS, Women, as well as Latino and Black Americans are at a
significantly higher risk for Alzheimer's disease and dementia; and

WHEREAS, Nationally, one-in-three seniors dies with Alzheimer's or
another dementia, killing more people than Breast Cancer and Prostate
Cancer combined; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that Alzheimer's and other dementias will
cost the nation $360 billion dollars in 2024 and will increase to nearly
$1 trillion by 2050; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the month of June, the Alzheimer's Association
encourages people around the globe to support the movement by wearing
purple as an opportunity to spread the word about and discuss
Alzheimer's disease and other dementias; and

WHEREAS, Individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and their
caregivers need acknowledgment, support, and services to meet their
needs over the lengthy progression of Alzheimer's disease and related
dementias; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2024, as Alzheimer's
and Brain Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York, and The Alzheimer's Association.