Bill Gates Joins the Fight to Cure Alzheimers

 Tech Mogul, Philanthropist and Billionaire, Bill Gates, has joined the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease. Gates says his ultimate goal is to find a treatment to cure the disease, not to just treat its symptoms. However, he believes developing treatments to manage Alzheimer’s like HIV and other chronic diseases is a good start.
For Gates this has become a personal matter as many men in his family have suffered with Dementia. Gates has donated $50 million dollars of his personal funds to the Dementia Discovery Fund, a research partnership focused on finding what drives the disease by examining the brain cell’s immune system. The Dementia Discovery Fund is based in London and is supported by charities, pharmaceutical firms and the government.
Gates decided to donate to the Dementia Discovery Fund due to their focus on less “mainstream” research and more on novel ideas.
Today, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. More than five million Americans live with the disease, and, without an effective treatment, the number is expected to grow to 16 million Americans by the year 2050. Currently, Americans living with the disease, are inundated with costs for prescriptions, doctors, rehabilitation, hospitalization, emergency room visits, caregivers, and care facilities. Gates shares that “a person with Alzheimer’s or another form of Dementia spends five times more every year out-of-pocket on health care than a senior without a neurodegenerative condition.” With the high cost of care, and the continuous progression of the disease, Gates believes that many will be left helpless around the world. Gates also states “Unlike those with many chronic diseases, people with Alzheimer’s incur long-term care costs as well as direct medical expenses. If you get the disease in your 60’s or 70’s, you might require expensive care for decades.”
Gates is hopeful that a breakthrough in treatment will be made in the next decade, however, long-term care still remains an issue at this time. At the very minimum, legal documents such as an Advance Healthcare Directive and Durable Power of Attorney should be put in place to help loved ones advocate for ill family members. Public benefits may also be an option for those who meet eligibility requirements. If you need guidance in navigating long-term care, contact our office for help.
For more information, please call 661-287-3260, or visit our website at www.theMcNamaraLawFirm.com.