California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 80

Introduced by Assembly Member Gallagher

(Principal coauthor: Senator Nielsen)

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Chávez, Grove, Lackey, and Wilk)

(Coauthors: Senators Anderson, Bates, Hall, and Leno)

May 27, 2015

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 80—Relative to Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month and The Longest Day.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 80, as introduced, Gallagher. Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month and The Longest Day.

This measure would recognize June 2015 as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and June 21, 2015, as The Longest Day in California, and would urge all residents to wear purple on this day to help spread global awareness of the Alzheimer’s Association’s vision of imagining a world without Alzheimer’s disease.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The month of June 2015 has been declared
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month to help spread awareness
of this debilitating disease and the need to increase efforts to
combat its devastating symptoms; and

WHEREAS, The summer solstice, June 21, 2015, has been
declared The Longest Day, with teams around the world coming
together to honor the strength, passion, and endurance of people
facing Alzheimer’s disease with a day of activity; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive
neurodegenerative brain disorder, tragically robs individuals of
their memories and leads to mental and physical impairments; and

WHEREAS, This condition has become the fifth leading cause
of death in California as numbers have increased by 169 percent
since 2000; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 5.1 million Americans 65 years of
age and older have Alzheimer’s disease, and another 200,000
people under 65 years of age have younger-onset Alzheimer’s
disease; and

WHEREAS, Deaths from other major causes have decreased
significantly, official records indicate that deaths from Alzheimer’s
disease have increased significantly; and

WHEREAS, In 2014, friends and family of people with
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias provided an estimated
17.9 billion hours of unpaid care, a contribution to the nation
valued at $217.7 billion; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, the direct cost to American society of
caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease will total an estimated
$226 billion, with one-half of the costs borne by Medicare, and an
expected growth of $1.1 trillion by the year 2050; and

WHEREAS, There is currently no way to prevent, cure, or even
slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease; and

WHEREAS, Researchers in California and around the world
continue their efforts to develop scientific breakthroughs that could
one day bring about a world without Alzheimer’s disease; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the individuals, families, friends,
and caregivers dealing with Alzheimer’s disease; and the
researchers who are seeking a cause or cure; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the efforts of the Alzheimer’s
Association to raise funds and promote awareness to fight
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, thereby improving the
quality of human life for people living with Alzheimer’s disease
and their caregivers; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
recognizes the month of June as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness
Month, and recognizes June 21, 2015, as The Longest Day in
California and urges all residents to wear purple on this day to
help spread global awareness of the Alzheimer’s Association’s
vision of imagining a world without Alzheimer’s disease; and be
it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.