Carbondale Reporter

Illinois State Senate District 59, said Senator Dale Fowler stated, "June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and support for those affected by Alzheimer's Disease." He made this statement in a June 13 Facebook post.

"June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and support for those affected by Alzheimer's Disease," said Fowler, Illinois State Senator (R), according to Facebook. "Let's come together to offer compassion and support research for a cure."

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, symptoms can include trouble remembering new information, difficulty completing familiar tasks, issues with planning or problem-solving, confusion about dates and times, and struggles with visual images and spatial relationships. Other symptoms may include trouble speaking or writing when these issues were not present before, an inability to retrace steps, and changes in judgment.

Screenshot of Sen. Dale Fowler's June 13 Facebook post | Senator Dale Fowler's Facebook page

During Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, there are various actions that individuals interested in learning more can take. The National Institutes of Health notes that each week of June focuses on a specific topic. The first week was devoted to learning the basics of Alzheimer’s disease and the risk in the Latino community. June 10-14 was dedicated to exploring the causes of Alzheimer’s and tips for reducing risk. The week of June 17-21 is dedicated to resources for those who care for Alzheimer’s patients; from June 24-28, the focus is on clinical trials.

The Alzheimer’s Association notes that nearly 7 million individuals have Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is expected to grow. The condition was the fifth leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older in 2021. Additionally, healthcare and long-term care costs for Alzheimer’s patients and those with other forms of dementia are expected to reach $360 billion this year, potentially rising to nearly $1 trillion by 2050.

Senator Fowler represents the people of the 59th Senate District. He was mayor of Harrisburg prior to joining the state senate and is a business development officer for People’s National Bank in Harrisburg since retiring from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice in 2012. His official Senate biography also notes his previous political experience as a city commissioner and Saline County Board member. He chairs the Midland Institute’s Saline County CEO program focusing on educating youths about entrepreneurial opportunities.