Something special is happening in the quiet laboratories on the third floor of the University of Pennsylvania's Maloney Building. Above Philadelphia's busy streets, a team of researchers is working to develop state-of-the-art therapies for one of the most tragic diseases: Alzheimer's.
Led by Dr. John Trojanowski, these researchers make up the Alzheimer's Disease Core Center. I had the honor of visiting them in May to learn about their efforts to combat the most common form of dementia.
Hearing about Alzheimer's harmful effects hit close to home: my father was diagnosed last year. Since then, my family and I have seen firsthand just how devastating this disease can be, not only for those suffering from it, but also for their families and caregivers.
During the tour, I thought back to November, when my wife, Kris, and I took our children to the "Walk to End Alzheimer's" at Citizens Bank Park in Philly. With more than 15,000 attending, it was the largest such walk in Pennsylvania. We walked to raise awareness for the victims of this cruel illness - 70 percent of whom still live at home. We also walked in solidarity for families affected by this disease with the confident hope that we will find the cause and cure. After visiting Penn's laboratories, I think we might be closer than ever.
That is some welcome news.
While most people I meet are familiar with Alzheimer's, they might not know just how widespread it is in our state. Pennsylvania has the fifth-highest statewide total of people suffering from Alzheimer's. Nationally, someone is diagnosed with it every 68 seconds, according to Wendy Campbell, President and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association's Delaware Valley Chapter.
Though these statistics are troubling, I am proud to report that Pennsylvania is leading the charge against this terrible disease. While scientists and doctors at Penn conduct groundbreaking research in the lab, volunteers and caregivers give of themselves everyday on the front lines.
Research from the U.S. Census, Department of Labor, National Alliance for Caregiving, and the AARP estimates that Pennsylvania's Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers provide 760 million hours of unpaid care valued at over $9 billion. That's a staggering figure, and a true testament to their compassion and determination.
Consider the words of Kevin Tucker, a volunteer with the Greater Pa. Chapter, Alzheimer's Association: "The toll this disease has taken on my family is devastating; my grandmother, aunt, uncle, and mother all suffered from dementia . . . I volunteer and walk in their memory to help others impacted by Alzheimer's and its related disorders."
The research that Dr. Trojanowski's team is conducting can help people like Kevin - and everyone affected by Alzheimer's - get the upper hand in this fight. But more work is needed. As a member of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's, I am committed to finding the most responsible - and effective - way of ensuring that this work continues and succeeds.
Alzheimer's is a tragic illness that robs its victims of one of their life's greatest possessions - their memories. Working together, I am confident we can end it.