Washington, DC – Jason Resendez, Executive Director of the LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s Network and Coalition, released the following statement in support of Hillary Clinton’s plan to effectively treat, prevent and cure Alzheimer’s disease by 2025.  

“This has been a good week for the millions of Latino families struggling with Alzheimer’s, beginning with the historic bipartisan Congressional increase in Alzheimer’s funding to $936 million per year signed into law by President Obama. And, today, the announcement of Hillary Clinton’s plan to stop Alzheimer’s by 2025. Not only is this the most specific and aggressive plan released by any presidential candidate to date, it’s the first to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disproportionate impact on minorities. 

The plan focuses on four critical elements: a significant increase in federal funding for Alzheimer’s research to $2 billion a year; a commitment to finding an effective treatment by 2025; a focus on Latinos, African Americans, and women who are disproportionately impacted by the disease; and essential support for caregivers who shoulder an almost impossible burden when caring for families and loved ones with the disease.

We launched the LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s Network and Coalition to diversify the race for an Alzheimer’s cure by activating key health, community, industry, and policy stakeholders in the Latino community. We’ve seen a tremendous need in communities across the nation, from Los Angeles to New York. While Alzheimer’s is equally devastating for all American families, Latinos face several unique barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and access to quality care. We welcome Senator Hillary Clinton’s efforts to raise awareness of this disease among Latinos and all minorities.

According to LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s patient and caregiver advocate Daisy Duarte, “I know if we stay committed, stay positive, and take bold action, we can cure Alzheimer’s for Latinos and for all Americans. I applaud Hillary Clinton’s efforts to prioritize minority awareness and welcome others to follow her lead.” 

This is the first comprehensive plan released by a major U.S. presidential political candidate, but many have called for increased funding.  We call on every presidential candidate and member of Congress to show the same commitment to ending this devastating disease for all communities, but particularly for the communities most vulnerable to Alzheimer’s. Curing Alzheimer’s must not be political or partisan; it’s an economic, family, and community issue of enormous urgency.”

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LatinosAgainstAlzheimer's Network and Coalition is the nation’s first-ever national initiative focused on raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease’s disproportionate impact on the Latino community. LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s works to raise the profile of Alzheimer’s disease as an urgent Latino health issue and costly disparity that demands the attention of health professionals, industry leaders, community stakeholders, and policymakers.

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s (UsA2) is a relentless force committed to ending Alzheimer's by 2020. Driven by the suffering of millions of families, UsAgainstAlzheimer's presses for greater urgency from government, industry and the scientific community in the quest for an Alzheimer's and strategic investments, including through our AfricanAmericansAgainstAlzheimer’s, LatinosAgainstAlzheimer’s, and WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s Networks.