National Plan To Address Alzheimer’s Disease

For millions of Americans, the heartbreak of watching a loved one struggle with Alzheimer's disease is a pain they know all too well. Alzheimer's disease burdens an increasing number of our Nation's elders and their families, and it is essential that we confront the challenge it poses to our public health.

— President Barack Obama

National Alzheimer’s Project Act

On January 4, 2011, President Barack Obama signed into law the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), requiring the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the National Alzheimer’s Project to:

• Create and maintain an integrated national plan to overcome Alzheimer’s disease.
• Coordinate Alzheimer’s disease research and services across all federal agencies.
• Accelerate the development of treatments that would prevent, halt, or reverse the course of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Improve early diagnosis and coordination of care and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Improve outcomes for ethnic and racial minority populations that are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
• Coordinate with international bodies to fight Alzheimer’s globally.

The law also establishes the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services and requires the Secretary of HHS, in collaboration with the Advisory Council, to create and maintain a national plan to overcome Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

NAPA offers a historic opportunity to address the many challenges facing people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. Given the great demographic shifts that will occur over the next 30 years, including the doubling of the population of older adults, the success of this effort is of great importance to people with AD and their family members, public policy makers, and health and social service providers.

 For a copy of the National Plan To Address Alzheimer’s Disease click here