Rep. Kahle offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 123.

            A resolution to declare June 2017 as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.

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

            Whereas, There are no known treatments to prevent, cure, or even delay the onset or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease; and

            Whereas, An estimated 5.3 million people aged 65 and over have Alzheimer’s disease and another 200,000 people under age 65 have younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease; and

            Whereas, In Michigan, there are an estimated 180,000 people living with Alzheimer’s today; and

            Whereas, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth leading cause among the elderly; and

            Whereas, According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Facts and Figures report, the direct costs of caring for those with Alzheimer’s to American society is valued at $259 billion and more than 15 million caregivers provided over 18 billion hours of unpaid care those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in 2016. In Michigan, 511,000 family members and friends cared for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, providing  582 million hours of unpaid care, with the annual value of this caregiving totaling $7,361,000,000; and

            Whereas, The state of Michigan recognizes 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 those living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers; and

            Whereas, The month of June 2017 has been declared Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month to help spread global awareness of the Alzheimer's Association's vision of imagining a world without Alzheimer's disease; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the  House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare June 2017 as Alzheimer's Awareness Month in the state of Michigan. We recognize the individuals, families, friends, and caregivers dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and the researchers who are seeking a cause or cure, and urge all residents to wear purple to help spread global awareness of the Alzheimer's Association's vision of imagining a world without Alzheimer's disease.