Urges sharper focus on infrastructure to reduce brain health disparities, advance dementia prevention, and expand paid family leave for caregivers

Washington, D.C. (March 31, 2021) - UsAgainstAlzheimer’s issued the following statement on the American Jobs Plan infrastructure proposal announced today by President Biden.

“We applaud the Biden administration's commitment to building essential public health and research infrastructure, including its proposed multi-billion-dollar investment in upgrading the research capacity of Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions. There are major gaps in Alzheimer's research infrastructure in underserved and underrepresented communities despite Black and Latino Americans being at an increased risk for the disease. 

“From air quality projects to improving schools, investments in our nation's aging infrastructure are essential to promoting brain health across the lifespan given the relationship between dementia risk and social determinants such as air pollution and access to quality education. 

“We urge the administration to sharpen its focus on narrowing brain health disparities and on advancing dementia prevention as part of these visionary investments in addressing the social determinants of health and building our communities back better. 

“We appreciate President Biden's recognition of caregiving as essential infrastructure and are heartened by his administration's proposed investments in home and community-based services and increasing the pay of essential care workers, who are disproportionally women of color. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the essential nature of unpaid caregivers who lack access to paid family and medical leave, including the nation's 16 million dementia caregivers who provide an estimated 18 billion hours of unpaid care annually. 

“Comprehensive paid family and medical leave is essential infrastructure that can help families balance care and work. We encourage the administration to continue its bold leadership by investing in national paid leave policy that benefits our nation's more than 50 million family caregivers of older adults. Access to paid family and medical leave would reduce financial hardship for new parents, caregivers of older adults, people with disabilities, and working families in America.”

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About UsAgainstAlzheimer’s

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s exists to conquer Alzheimer’s disease. We take on the toughest problems; bring all of “Us” together to break down barriers; advocate for research that will speed treatments to market; and drive changes that matter most to people living with the disease. We will not rest until brain-span equals lifespan - for everyone.