Editor,
Potentially, 100,000 Utah residents may be living with a terminal brain disease by 2025. Alarming statistics show Utah with the highest per capita prevalence increase of Alzheimer's and related dementia's in the U.S. You may know someone with dementia and see the family devastation it creates. If you don't, these alarming statistics should get your attention. There are no cures and few medications to manage dementia symptoms. The stigma surrounding brain disease can prevent families from seeking a diagnosis. Currently many health professionals lack skills to accurately diagnose or treat brain diseases. Misdiagnosed patients may be treated for mental illness, depression or bi-polar conditions often making dementia symptoms worse. Dementia patients live from 1-10 years. So, if you think you are not impacted, think again. Caring for potentially 100,000 Utahn's with brain diseases for up to 10 years will substantially strain our health care system. Utah state senators will vote soon to fund a five-year action plan to help this crisis. The plan is titled S.J.R 1, Alzheimer's State Plan Joint Resolution. This important legislation will promote help for caregivers and families, support advance research, provide dementia education for health professionals and paid care facilities. We need to act now to help ourselves, our children and grandchildren. I write this letter hoping you will call, email or write your state senator asking their support to pass S.J.R 1. Read the legislation or locate your senator on www.le.utah.gov.
Debbie Warren
Ogden
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