Gottheimer hosts Alzheimer’s roundtable with patients, caregivers and medical experts
WALDWICK BOROUGH, N.J. (Bergen County) — U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer brought together patients, caregivers, medical professionals, advocates and local officials Tuesday for a roundtable discussion on Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and their impact on New Jersey families.
The discussion, held Aug. 11 at the Waldwick Public Library, focused on challenges facing people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, as well as early diagnosis, access to treatment, medical research and federal funding.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and progressively affects memory and other cognitive functions. An estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s, representing about one in nine seniors, according to information provided by Gottheimer’s office.
“This isn’t an abstract issue for me. Like so many of you, I’ve had close friends and family members who’ve struggled with this disease, and once you’ve watched it up close, it changes something in you,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “For decades, an Alzheimer’s diagnosis felt like a hopeless one. That is finally starting to change, but only if we keep the research funded, keep training our doctors, and keep fighting to make sure new breakthroughs actually reach the people who need them. I want to thank our medical experts, advocates, patients, caregivers, and local leaders who joined me this morning.”
Participants discussed the strain dementia can place on families, particularly those providing unpaid care.
According to figures provided by Gottheimer’s office, about 185,300 New Jersey residents age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s. About 22,800 of those residents live in Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties.
An estimated 283,000 New Jersey residents provide unpaid care to people with dementia, representing about $13.6 billion in unpaid care, according to the congressman’s office.
“Alzheimer’s touches every part of a family’s life, and no one should have to navigate its challenges alone. I thank Congressman Gottheimer for bringing people together for this important conversation and for his continued leadership on issues affecting family caregivers. These conversations give us an opportunity to listen to families, learn from their experiences, and work together on solutions that make a real difference. At New Jersey Human Services, we are committed to helping those living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias remain as independent and connected to their communities as possible, while helping caregivers get the support and resources they need,” said Kaylee McGuire, Deputy Commissioner for New Jersey Aging and Disability Services.
The roundtable also addressed the importance of detecting dementia earlier and ensuring primary care providers have the training necessary to recognize symptoms, diagnose patients and connect them with appropriate treatment and services.
“It was an honor to join Congressman Gottheimer and fellow experts to discuss the current landscape of Alzheimer’s disease. Meaningful progress, from improving early diagnostics and supporting caregivers to driving medical innovation, requires steadfast collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and dedicated policymakers as we work together to finally put an end to this devastating disease,” said Dr. Manisha Parulekar, Chief, Division of Geriatrics, and Co-Director, Center for Memory Loss and Brain Health at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Gottheimer, a Democrat representing New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District, is a member of the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease.
His office said he recently helped advance the bipartisan Accelerating Access to Dementia & Alzheimer’s Provider Training Act, known as the AADAPT Act, through the House. The legislation is intended to provide primary care professionals with additional training and tools for recognizing, diagnosing and caring for patients with dementia.
Gottheimer also cosponsored the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act, which became law and supports public health efforts involving Alzheimer’s detection and prevention and assistance for caregivers.
His office said he has supported several other Alzheimer’s-related measures, including the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act, the CHANGE Act, the Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act and the NAPA Reauthorization Act.
Roundtable participants called for continued federal investment in Alzheimer’s research, greater resources for family caregivers, improved access to treatment and additional training for health care providers.
Gottheimer has also supported congressional efforts seeking increased funding for Alzheimer’s research at the National Institutes of Health, including a proposed $318 million increase in federal research funding.
