Justice O'Connor Addresses Senate on Alzheimer's - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

5/14/08

Justice O'Connor Addresses Senate on Alzheimer's

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Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor took the fight against Alzheimer's to Capitol Hill Wednesday. 

Former house speaker Newt Gingrich joined O'Connor to testify at a Senate hearing on Alzheimer's disease.  O'Connor, whose husband has been diagnosed with the disease, called on Congress to strengthen efforts to fight Alzheimer's. 

More than five million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease and there is no cure.  An expected 16 million people will have the disease by 2050. 

Sandra Day O'Connor said, "What we have to ask is whether this rapid growth is inevitable.  And I think it's now if we can fund the research and encourage it and enable testing to be done and get clinical trials."

Both O'Connor and Gingrich are part of an Alzheimer's study group that aimed at creating a national strategy to fight the deadly disease.

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