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Lobbying state representatives to pass a new bill will be of primary focus when the Utah Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association holds a rally at the State Capitol as part of the organization's annual Advocacy Day events on February 5th, 2015.

The bill has not yet been named or numbered, but if passed, it will advance two vital causes intended to benefit those living with, or caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease - currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

The first will be to designate Alzheimer's and related dementias as a public health issue, and then to have the State's Department of Health primarily responsible for the implementation of the State Alzheimer's Plan.

The plan outlines about 94 strategies to be implemented, which specifically address the diagnosis and care of Utahns living with the disease.

"Of those specific strategies, about 84% of them relate directly to the work that the State Department of Health would be responsible for, so that's why in the bill we have designated them to be specifically responsible," Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Association, Utah Chapter, Ronnie Daniel said.

The DoH would also coordinate with other departments at the State level, for instance, the Division of Aging at the Department of Public Human Services – another department largely responsible for working with caregivers, and providing support to people who might have Alzheimer's.

Future planning on how to deal with the disease is critical since one in every nine people aged 65 and older have Alzheimer's, and one in three by age 85. Those numbers are expected to more than triple nationally by 2050.

"These figures mean that everyone will likely have a family member who is dealing with the disease," Daniel said. "Secondly, we are all going to get older, and the largest significant factor in getting Alzheimer's is age," he said. "So, supporting this objective, which includes helping us find a cure for the disease, will be beneficial to everyone."

Like many people, Manuel Romero once thought of Alzheimer's as "just an old person's disease", something he wouldn't have to worry about for a while. That is until his brother Floyd was diagnosed at the age of 71. The disease progressed rapidly and in just three years, he passed away at the age of 74.

"With him succumbing to the disease, I became very involved and learned a lot more about how many of us are at risk," Romero said. "Watching what my brother and his family went through, really impacted me, and that's one of the primary reasons why I got involved with the Association."

Romero is now an ambassador and member of the Utah Alzheimer's Association leadership board. He travels the State sharing information and educating others about the disease, how the Association can help and the economic burden the State and country stand to face if adequate measures are not taken now to decrease the rate at which Americans are contracting the disease.

"Our biggest challenge is trying to get the legislature to pay more attention to this, because they have their plate full. But they also need to know the cost of this disease if we don't deal with it and invest in finding a cure now," Romero said.

Alzheimer's currently places a $150 Billion burden on the national healthcare system, and if contraction rates continue to increase in line with predictions, caring for people living with the disease will cost the country $880 Billion in 35 years.

"And this includes costs to taxpayers. So everyone needs to get involved, whether it's for personal, family reasons, or purely for economic reasons, we must all do our part to lobby our representatives and ensure both local and federal politicians are fully aware of the cost" Romero said.

The Association's February 5th Advocacy Day rally will present the perfect opportunity to do this.

"It will also be a great opportunity for people to approach their individual state representative or senator, to let them know their feelings about passing the bill by the end of the current legislative session, because if it's passed, that bill will certainly positively impact how we deal with the disease here in Utah."

The Association is offering to arrange appointments for people attending the rally who wish to meet with their State Representative.

To have your appointment arranged, please call: 801.265.1944. WHAT: Alzheimer's Association, Utah Chapter Advocacy Day Rally

WHY: To raise awareness about the disease, what it's costing the State, and to lobby State Representatives to pass a bill (by the end of this legislative session) that addresses a strategic plan on dealing with and finding a cure for the disease

WHEN: February 5th, 2014 at 11AM

WHERE: State Capitol in the Rotunda

If you are concerned that you, or a loved one may have Alzheimer's visit this link http://www.alz.org/10signs for a list of the top 10 warning signs.

To find out more about how you can get involved in Alzheimer's research studies, please visit http://www.alz.org/TrialMatch