Capitol Monitor ....
Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Fourth District of Virginia 

May 11, 2007

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In this Issue

 1. Living with Alzheimer's

2. Celebrate Jamestown

 

 

:: Living with Alzheimer's ::  

 

“Let’s take a walk; we can go to the library,” she says optimistically after taking the picture out of his hands. He had been staring at the old photograph for nearly fifteen minutes. He agrees to the walk, and she hands him his hat—the old-fashioned kind, gray and rumpled—and helps him button his coat. “Maureen was a beautiful woman,” he says dazedly to her. “Do you want to hear the poem I wrote for her?” Without pausing for an answer, he begins to recite the poem. She politely listens to the same poem that she hears a few times a day. He is referencing his wife—Maureen—who had died several years before the disease began to ravage his mind. Today is a good day; some days he still believes Maureen is alive.

As they walk down the sidewalk to the small college campus where he had once served as president, they pass buildings named after him and students who recognize him. “Hi Dr. Wright!,” they say as he passes by. He smiles a goofy grin and tips his hat. He appreciates the attention, although he can’t explain why he receives it. Sadness hits her often as she realizes the hopelessness of his situation. A brilliant and learned scholar, he devoted his life to research, teaching, and writing, and now he is losing the mind that once held such a passion for knowledge. A man once stubbornly independent is now completely dependent on other people.

As they approach a group of students, he decides to stop and talk. “This,” he says as he introduces her to the group, “is my friend Anna.” Anna’s heart sinks and she smiles bleakly at the group.

“Maybe tomorrow,” she thinks, ‘he will remember that I am his daughter.”

The affects of Alzheimer’s disease can be devastating, not just to the person diagnosed, but to the family members and loved ones who interact with individuals experiencing such a hopeless disease. Over five million people in the United States suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, and millions of others are left with the grief over a parent, grandparent, sibling, or spouse struggling with the disease. Many of these people become caretakers, devoting their lives to caring for their loved one, often times without any recognition of their dedication. Some experience denial and they begin to distance themselves from the loved one that no longer understands or recognizes them. And others are left with loneliness from the sudden loss in relationship with someone who used to be their closest companion. Alzheimer’s is possibly one of the most heartbreaking diseases simply because of the difficult emotional effects that come alongside the disease’s uncontrollable progression. It has often been described as a continuous roller coaster ride as many Alzheimer’s patients live with this disease for 8 to 10 years after diagnosis – often their physical health remaining relatively good.

Years ago, many people believed memory loss to be “old people’s disease” or a result of poor diet, heavy smoking, or exposure to high levels of aluminum. However, experts and researchers now realize these memory loss symptoms may be a serious illness and not just a natural part of aging. The danger surrounding Alzheimer's is real; Alzheimer's patients often forget simple things like sense of direction or the difference between hot and cold. In the final stages, many start to forget the most basic things like eating, and they require 24-hour monitoring. At this time, although the Food and Drug Administration has approved some drugs that temporarily stabilize or slow some of the effects of Alzheimer’s, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and no way to stop the progression of the disease. There is much research left to be done.

One thing that is undeniable about Alzheimer’s is the necessity of continued and thorough research of the disease. The cost for Alzheimer’s care is increasing dramatically as Alzheimer’s patients live longer due to overall improvements in medicine. The Alzheimer's Association says that the direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer's and other dementia amount to more than $148 billion annually. In 2005, Medicare spent $91 billion on beneficiaries with Alzheimer's, and that number is likely to double in the next ten years because of the aging baby boomer population. Additionally, costs associated with caregivers are also set to rise. Federally, we must strengthen our commitment to those impacted by Alzheimer’s by increasing funding for disease research and promoting public education of the risk factors associated with disease. Providing funding for research will allow us to focus on prevention and cures, resulting in a difference in overall health care costs.

I recently cosponsored H.R. 1560, the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act of 2007. This legislation increases the authorization level for Alzheimer’s disease research funding to $1.3 billion and reauthorizes important research programs, like the aging process regarding women. The Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act would also establish Alzheimer’s disease as a priority at the National Institute on Aging. It would require the Department of Health and Human Services to host a National Summit on Alzheimer’s to examine the current National Institutes of Health research agenda, prioritize federally-supported Alzheimer’s initiatives, and require a report to Congress within 180 days of the summit.

The Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act authorizes grants to provide Alzheimer’s disease education and training programs for health professionals and would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to carry out projects to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. These projects would encourage individuals to seek early intervention in the course of the disease.

Because Alzheimer’s does not only affect the person directly diagnosed, the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act would also provide assistance to caregivers by establishing a National Alzheimer’s Call Center. The 24-hours a day, 7-days a week call center would be staffed with trained professionals who would provide expert advice and referral services to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, caregivers, health professionals, and the public.

Alzheimer’s disease research funding provides the tools needed to touch those who have been touched by Alzheimer’s disease. While we cannot turn back the clock for loved-ones diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, we can move forward with Alzheimer’s disease research in the hope that one day that research will result in a cure for this physically and emotionally devastating disease. For more information on Alzheimer’s disease, including early detection signs, support for caregivers, and a list of helpful publications available, please visit http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/.
 

 

:: Celebrate Jamestown ::  

 

Four hundred years ago, three English ships sailed for five months to reach the land we now know as the United States of America. When they arrived, 104 English men walked off the boats looking to find prosperity and a new beginning in a land they would call Virginia. They sailed inland, up a river they would call the James and onto a settlement they would name Jamestown, after their king.

Jamestown’s humble beginnings were hard and showed little of the prosperity the settlers had hoped for. The first year of existence was filled with drought, disease and starvation. For the first few years, death and failure reigned. The colony was plagued with malaria, and many suffered from living in harsh conditions and drinking polluted water, were attacked by Powhatan Indians, and suffered under severe drought. By January of 1608, only 38 settlers remained alive.

But in pursuit of prosperity and with the will to persevere, the community managed to endure, and it is now celebrated as the first permanent colony. In 1994, archaeologists uncovered remnants of Jamestown, revealing many details thought to be lost in history. The many artifacts diggers have found prove that the settlers were hard workers; they produced tools, glassware and precious metals. The men towed the dirt, sticks and water to make the first brick to build houses and a wall around Jamestown. They tried their hand at growing crops, such as corn and tobacco. Also found were many remnants signaling that assistance was given by the Native Americans living among them. Excavators found Indian pottery, tools for working stone, and many arrowheads.

This weekend marks the 400th anniversary and commemoration of the Jamestown settlement. It is a time to appreciate and celebrate the settlers’ hard work and perseverance that created history. For more information on events and activities celebrating Jamestown this weekend, visit http://www.historyisfun.org/anniversary.htm. For information on events, guided tours at the Jamestown Settlement, or opportunities to volunteer during the summer, visit www.jamestown2007.org.


                         
Congressman Forbes recently signed on to a resolution of Congress honoring Jamestown, as the first permanent settlement of the United States. To learn more, visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:hconres117:.

SPOTLIGHT ....

Save Money at the Pump: An Interactive Guide

 

Congressman Forbes Discusses Gas Prices on Washington Review

 

ON THE HILL ....

Current Floor Proceedings

Bills Coming Up This Week

Monthly Whip Calendar

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