Utah’s presidential primary is upon us. We feel the weight of the responsibility to make sure we know where candidates stand on issues important to all of us. As a representative of the 29,000 voters living with Alzheimer’s disease, and 142,000 caregivers, I say that our state and nation face no issue more critical than Alzheimer’s disease.
I see firsthand every day the emotional and financial toll of this devastating disease. I also know the sad reality that only 45 percent of American patients are told of their Alzheimer’s diagnosis. That means that the majority living with Alzheimer’s are flying blind.
According to a recent voter survey by the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly four in five voters express concern about this disease and the vast majority considers it a voting issue. We are joined by 73 million American voters who know someone with Alzheimer’s and the millions more who expect our government to make Alzheimer’s research and care a priority.
As Utahans prepare for our primary, I encourage you to vote for that candidate who joins the thousands of my fellow voters in recognizing Alzheimer’s disease as a nationwide epidemic and political issue that must be proactively and immediately addressed.
