NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An advocacy group is pushing for an "Alzheimer's Advisory Council" that would study the effects the disease has on the population of Tennessee.
According to the group, 120,000 people in Tennessee are afflicted with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia.
The advisory council would study that population, as well as provide suggestions to the state for treatment.
"We can't make real tangible changes until the government gets involved," said Alexandra Soffer, an advocate whose father died recently of the disease. "Alzheimers is a unique disease. And like I said, it's like a nuclear bomb. It hits its target but its effects are felt all throughout the community, through families and even to grand children."
The bill passed unanimously through the state House Health Committee.
"We need to focus on this disease right now. One in three people are going to die from Alzheimer's disease," said Soffer.
