Our Readers Write

During Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month in June, I will hike the West Highland Way in Scotland in memory of my grandparents. I lost my Gran 11 years ago to Alzheimer’s disease and saw the impact caregiving had on my Granpa.

I think my grandparents would both be proud of my 96-mile journey through their native Scotland and the steps I’m taking to end Alzheimer’s. As I hike, I will be raising funds and awareness through The Longest Day, an annual event on the summer solstice to advance care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.

In the US, 5.7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, 89,000 of them here in South Carolina. We have the highest Alzheimer’s mortality rate in the nation.

Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease costing us more than $259 billion a year.

As I’m hiking this June, Congress has an opportunity to take steps of their own by passing the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act.

Endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Association, this bill would create an Alzheimer’s public health infrastructure to increase early detection and diagnosis, reduce risk and prevent avoidable hospitalizations.

I respectfully ask Congressman Joe Wilson and Senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham to cosponsor the BOLD Infrastructure act during Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. What better time to take a bold step forward for South Carolina families facing Alzheimer’s and related dementia?

Laura Joseph, Cayce

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