SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 164

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 3, 2019

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 164.

      This resolution urges the Commissioner of Health to declare Alzheimer’s disease a public health crisis.

      Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that is the most common form of dementia.  Alzheimer’s disease usually occurs in people age 65 and older, although early-onset Alzheimer’s disease can occur as well.  The condition results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and changes in personality and mood, and in advanced cases leads to a profound decline in cognitive and physical functioning.  Alzheimer’s disease currently has no cure, and is the sixth leading cause of death in adults age 18 or older in the United States and in New Jersey.

      Declaring Alzheimer’s disease a public health crisis may facilitate efforts to improve early detection, risk reduction, and surveillance efforts, as well as promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors and educating the health care workforce concerning the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.