{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397726", "<span class=\"kicker\">Free Screenings Available Nov. 18</span>U.S. Reps. Smith, Waters Mark Alzheimers Foundation 12th Annual Memory Screening Day", "2014-11-17", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representatives Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), House co-Chairs of the Bipartisan, Bicameral Task Force on Alzheimer's disease, commended the Alzheimer\u2019s Foundation of America (AFA) for holding its 12th annual Memory Screening Day on Nov. 18.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe AFA has remained steadfast in its commitment to provide access to these necessary evaluations, which assist Americans in forming their healthcare decisions surrounding Alzheimer\u2019s disease and dementia.\u00a0 I have been fortunate to collaborate with members of AFA for many years to help raise awareness about this debilitating disease, and they have made great inroads in both informing the public and providing the needed resources for early detection of Alzheimer\u2019s disease,\u201d said Smith.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNational Memory Screening Day is a wonderful opportunity for individuals with memory concerns to get free and confidential screenings for Alzheimer\u2019s disease and other problems affecting memory,\u201d said Waters. \u201cIt is also an opportunity to raise awareness of Alzheimer\u2019s disease and promote the value of memory screening and early detection.\u201d\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For over a decade, the AFA has held annual National Memory Screening Days in November during National Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Awareness Month. The AFA provides these safe, private screenings in collaboration with local organizations and healthcare professionals. Last year alone, there were 7,500 NMSD sites with over 250,000 individuals participating.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Alzheimer\u2019s is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, with a 68 percent increase in deaths caused by Alzheimer\u2019s in the last 10 years. Alzheimer\u2019s disease, a degenerative condition characterized by steadily deteriorating thinking and memory skills, currently has no cure.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sharing the impact of the disease are the 15 million family members and others who act as caregivers and provide an estimated 17 billion hours of unpaid care\u2014often relinquishing their jobs and other obligations to do so. Economic costs of unpaid care are estimated to exceed $200 billion annually. In New Jersey, an estimated 170,000 Garden State residents suffered from this form of dementia in 2014, and 443,000 caregivers provided unpaid care. In California, nearly 600,000 have Alzheimer\u2019s disease with 1.5 million family members providing care.\n\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0National Memory Screening Day is of great potential significance for the millions of Americans who may be unaware that they have Alzheimer\u2019s disease, and have not yet developed a plan of action.\u00a0 On Nov. 18th, local sites are offering free, confidential memory screenings to the public, as well as education about memory concerns, dementia, caregiving and healthy aging. You can find the nearest screening site by entering your zip code here: http://www.afascreenings.org/.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThere is a persistent stigma associated with Alzheimer\u2019s disease that prevents people from talking about it and taking action that could ultimately help improve quality of life,\u201d said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., president and CEO of the Alzheimer\u2019s Foundation of America. \u201cWe encourage people to seek early detection of memory issues on National Memory Screening Day by offering free, confidential screenings.\u00a0 A memory screening is much like any other routine health check-up \u2013 it\u2019s non-invasive and takes just five to 10 minutes.\u201d\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Memory screenings are not used to diagnose illness. Rather, they are an indicator to determine whether a person might benefit from further examination by a qualified physician. These safe and cost-effective interventions can guide individuals to the appropriate resources before long-term complications, hospitalizations or misdiagnoses occur. Those with normal scores also benefit from screenings, as greater knowledge dispels fears, provides a baseline for future screenings, and promotes disease prevention.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cEarly detection of Alzheimer\u2019s disease improves treatment and helps individuals and families plan for their future,\u201d said Waters. \u201cI congratulate the Alzheimer\u2019s Foundation of America for organizing the 12th annual National Memory Screening Day.\u201d\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cMemory screenings are not only the first step on the path to obtaining an accurate and early diagnosis, they also offer insight into brain health to all who participate,\u201d said Smith.\u00a0 \u201cI highly encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity.\u201d\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For additional information on Alzheimer\u2019s disease and memory screenings, visit: www.nationalmemoryscreening.org.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith and Waters also teamed up with other House members earlier this year to introduce HRes. 489, which calls on the U.S. to both engage in and lead a coordinated, international effort to advance work for the treatment, prevention and, perhaps, even a cure for Alzheimer\u2019s disease as well as other forms of dementia.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith co-authored the bipartisan National Alzheimer\u2019s Project Act or NAPA, which passed the House in 2010 and was enacted in 2011 to establish the goal of preventing and successfully treating Alzheimer\u2019s disease by 2025 in the United States.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0HRes. 489 calls on the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enter into negotiations with the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop a Global Alzheimer\u2019s and Dementia Action Plan focused on areas such as research, clinical care, supportive services for patients and for caregivers, prevention and health promotion, public awareness and education.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith recently chaired a series of hearings in the subcommittee on global health. The effort is the latest in the bipartisan endeavors begun by Smith and then-Congressman, now Senator, Ed Markey (D-MA), who teamed up to write NAPA/HR 4689 in 20101. That bill led to enactment of NAPA (PL 111-375), which established the goal of preventing and successfully treating Alzheimer\u2019s disease by 2025 in the United States. Click here to read the national plan.\u00a0 The plan reflects efforts of the Advisory Council on Alzheimer\u2019s Research, Care, and Services\u2014also created by NAPA\u2014as well as advocates across the country. It required the development of the national plan to employ and coordinate government and private sector research and improve care and support services. The law also created an advisory committee of private and federal experts to work with the HHS Secretary to comprehensively assess and address Alzheimer\u2019s research, institutional services and home and community-based care.\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397726"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.078065950423479, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}