Public health—the practice of preventing disease and promoting health—effectively targets environmental factors and health behaviors that contribute to chronic conditions. As a public health professional, I know that with even a small reduction in the prevalence of chronic disease, the combined health and productivity cost savings of prevention lead to a positive return on investment within a short time.
Alzheimer’s is the public health crisis of our time. It is the sixth leading cause of death and the only one that doesn’t have a cure or adequate treatment. It is the most expensive disease in America, and it’s set to increase like no other.
Nearly one in every $5 in Medicare spending is spent on people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Smart investments by our federal government have been shown to have a profound impact on the health of our nation. Our government has made significant commitments to combat disease such as heart disease, HIV/AIDS, and breast cancer—and deaths from these disease have declined.
Additionally, adequate funding for CDC, HRSA ,and the Prevention and Public Health Fund is needed to support a strong public health system, respond to everyday health threats and unexpected public health emergencies, and ensure that all individuals have access to the health care and preventive services they need. Without adequate funding to address the many public health challenges we face, the net effect will be more death and disability and higher long-term economic and social costs.
These two issues may seems at odds with each other, but the reality is that Alzheimer’s will be the biggest issue that our public health professionals face in the coming years, and the federal government must address the challenges the disease poses and take a bold action to confront this epidemic now.
This article appears in Jul 24-31, 2014.