Barbara Streisand Contributes

Alzheimer’s Association Asks Bush for $1 Billion in Research

Jan. 27, 2003 - The Alzheimer's Association today called on President Bush to increase research funding at NIH to $1 billion and to find solutions to issues of chronic- and long term-care. They also announced a major contribution by Barbara Streisand, whose mother suffered from Alzheimer’s.

Following is the statement of Bonnie Hogue, director of federal and state issues:

"There is a health care disaster looming on the horizon that only the President and Congress can prevent. The U.S. health care system is about to implode, and Alzheimer's disease will be the detonator. Unless we find solutions within the next few years we will bankrupt our health care system and destroy the infrastructure that provides care.

"We are in a Race against Time. It is a race we can win but only if President Bush leads us to the finish line. Alzheimer's is an epidemic that is already driving costs out of control.

"We call on President Bush to:

-- Provide $1 billion for Alzheimer research at the National Institutes of Health, to reduce dramatically the numbers of people with Alzheimer's in the future and to lessen the disabling impact of the disease for those who get it.

-- Direct Medicare resources to chronic care, including meaningful prescription drug coverage, to prevent the acute care crises and excess disability that are driving health care costs today.

-- Maintain the Medicaid long term care safety net while expanding options and supports for family-centered home and community based care.

"Twenty years ago, President Ronald Reagan launched a national campaign against Alzheimer's disease -- at a time when it was assumed there were less than 2 million Americans with the disease. With foresight, he focused on the heavy "emotional, financial, and social consequences of Alzheimer's disease" and on research as the hope for families and victims."

Ms. Streisand  selected the association as the recipient of proceeds generated from the auction of an intricate platinum heart-shaped pendant designed by the mega-star. Ms. Streisand, whose late mother suffered with Alzheimer's disease, headlines the list of female celebrities participating in this year's Platinum's Women With Heart( celebrity pendant design and auction. The event is sponsored by Platinum Guild International USA, the U.S. marketing arm for the worldwide platinum industry. Online bidding takes place at http://www.sothebys.com from Jan. 27 to Feb. 10.

Additional details on the celebrities, their pendants and charities, platinum designers, public preview days and online bidding, are available at Platinum Guild International's Web site, http://www.preciousplatinum.com.

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading source of information and support for the 4 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. Through its national network of chapters, the association offers a broad range of programs and services for people with the disease, their families and caregivers and represents their interests on Alzheimer-related issues before federal, state and local government and with health and long-term care providers. The largest private funder of Alzheimer research in the United States, the association has committed $136 million toward research into the disease. For more information on the Alzheimer's Association, visit http://www.alz.org.