This week, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced a bipartisan “Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act.”

This legislation would build out the systems necessary to create a public health infrastructure to combat Alzheimer’s disease and preserve brain health, the senator’s office announced. “As the number of people diagnosed and living with Alzheimer’s disease continues to grow, we have to help alleviate the burden this disease has on our health care system and families across Virginia,” Kaine said.

“States often lack resources that would help caregivers address patient needs. This bipartisan bill would improve care and outcomes by providing a full range of information and support to families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s, and boosting local efforts dedicated to addressing this pressing public health need. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the greatest and under-recognized public health threats of our time. Five and a half million Americans are living with the disease, and that number is soaring as our overall population grows older and lives longer,” he said. “As one of the leading causes of death in the United States, Alzheimer’s prevention is crucial to combating this debilitating disease.”