Washington, D.C., November 21, 2024 — The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation spearheaded by the Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM). This critical bill will reauthorize the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (P.L.115-406) and empower public health departments to implement effective dementia interventions in their communities. The BOLD Reauthorization Act unanimously passed the House in September, and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

“Since the original BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act passed, public health departments have been able to improve the brain health of those in their communities,” said Robert Egge, Alzheimer’s Association chief public policy officer and AIM president. “Today the Senate took action to reauthorize BOLD and ensure this pivotal work continues. Thank you to Sen. Susan Collins and our congressional champions from both sides of the aisle for their leadership and longstanding dedication to the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia.”

Since the original BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act passed in 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made 66 awards to 45 state, local and tribal public health departments to help them implement effective dementia interventions such as reducing risk, increasing early detection and diagnosis, and supporting the needs of caregivers.

To continue this critical public health work, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced the BOLD Reauthorization Act in the Senate, and Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) introduced it in the House. Thanks to their leadership, this legislation moved through committees in the Senate and House with overwhelming support earlier this year, and the House passed it unanimously in September. 

“The BOLD Reauthorization Act will help public health departments implement effective strategies that promote brain health and support individuals living with dementia and their caregivers,” said Egge. “We urge the president to support the Alzheimer’s community and swiftly sign this bipartisan bill into law.”