Lewy Body Dementia Newly Represented on Federal Alzheimer's Council

ATLANTA, Nov. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the first time, an advocate for the Lewy body dementia (LBD) community, Angela Taylor, Director of Programs at the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA), has been named a member of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care and Services.

Taylor is one of six new members named by Sylvia Burwell, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, out of a pool of nearly 100 nominees. The newly named individuals are replacing Council members whose 4-year terms ended in September.

"This is an exciting step for the LBD community, as it's the first time we have a dedicated voice at the federal level," said Michael Koehler, president of LBDA's Board of Directors. LBD, which has mixed elements of both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, is the second most progressive dementia after Alzheimer's disease. Approximately 1.4 million people in the U.S. have LBD and the non-profit LBDA is the only national health organization dedicated to this disease. LBD, a complex disease that can present with a range of physical, cognitive and behavioral symptoms, is a "family" disease dramatically impacting not only the person diagnosed, but also the primary caregiver.

"There is no one more suited to the advocacy role on the federal Alzheimer's council than Angela Taylor, who has worked diligently on behalf of LBD families for 11 years," Koehler added.  "At LBDA, she oversees national programs and services, including outreach, education, awareness programming, and research initiatives."

The National Alzheimer's Plan Act (NAPA) was signed into law in 2010 to develop a national strategy to address Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (including LBD, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia and mixed dementias) by 2025. The Council was established in 2011 and meets quarterly to continue development and progress on the National Plan to address Alzheimer's Disease by HHS, Veteran's Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the National Science Foundation. The Council is comprised of both public stakeholders and representatives from numerous federal agencies that advise the secretary of HHS on federal programs that affect people with dementia.

To learn more about the Council and its newest members, read the HHS press release at http://1.usa.gov/1Mtl50L

To learn more about LBD and LBDA visit www.lbda.org

SOURCE Lewy Body Dementia Association

Related Links

http://www.lbda.org