Section 18761 Of Article 6. California Alzheimer’s Disease And Related Research Fund From California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 10.2. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 6.
18761
. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders are
devastating health conditions that cause a loss of intellectual
functioning so severe that they interfere with an individual's daily
functioning and eventually result in death. These conditions cause
serious financial, social, and emotional hardships on those affected
and on their family caregivers.
(b) Between 2008 and 2030 the number of Californians living with
Alzheimer's disease will double in both the general population and
among the African American population. In this same period, there is
expected to be a tripling of that disease among California's Latino
and Asian Pacific Islander populations.
(c) Among California's baby boomers 55 years of age and older,
their lifetime risk for developing Alzheimer's disease is one in
eight.
(d) Alzheimer's disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in
California.
(e) Families provide almost three-quarters of the value of care
for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease in the community and
in facilities, amounting to approximately $72.7 billion out of an
estimated total cost of $104 billion. These family caregivers are
more likely to experience financial hardship, health difficulties,
and a negative impact on their ability to work outside the home.
(f) The cost to the Medi-Cal program for an individual with
Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia is two and one-half times
greater than the cost for an individual without a diagnosis of
dementia.
(g) While scientists have made great strides in understanding
Alzheimer's disease and other causes of dementia, there is no known
prevention or cure at this time.
(h) It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this article,
to establish a systematic program for the conduct of research
regarding the cause, prevention, diagnosis, cure, and treatment of
Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The outcome of this
research may have direct effects and consequences on the development
of a comprehensive system that will provide diagnoses and treatment
to victims of those health problems. This program shall award grants
to eligible physicians, hospitals, laboratories, educational
institutions, and other organizations and persons for the purpose of
enabling those organizations and persons to conduct research.