Resources for Alzheimer's screening, treatment are woefully inadequate in Ohio | Opinion

My wife, Melody and I have over 65 years of health care experience, myself as an emergency physician and my wife as a registered nurse. I was diagnosed two years ago with a rare form of dementia called posterior cortical atrophy. We realized, because of our life’s work, we were well-equipped for the medical aspects of the fight ahead. The Alzheimer’s Association is helping us with many other aspects of this journey.

But we equally realized that countless others with this diagnosis and their loved ones may not be as prepared. Medical awareness and resources for screening, diagnosis and treatment are woefully inadequate in our state, and most likely across the nation.

The new promising treatments and many more on the horizon can only make a critical difference in millions of lives if early diagnosis and treatment are available to those in need. Waiting 6-12 months for an appointment with a qualified neurologist is just the beginning of the series of delays and roadblocks to effective treatment for far too many Ohioans with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

My wife and I are passionate about doing our part to change this. A patient’s delay in a diagnosis is not their fault, but could be disqualifying them for the treatments available. This is not acceptable to us, and not acceptable to others in health care. It should not be acceptable to those elected by such patients to protect their best interests.

In April, we had the privilege of attending the Ohio State Advocacy Day. The Alzheimer’s Association holds it every year, affording families impacted by dementia, like ours, the opportunity to speak in person with state legislators and share how they have personally been impacted by this devastating disease. Please contact your state senators and representatives and let them know that legislative support of Alzheimer’s and dementia funding, research, testing, early detection, programs and services in Ohio is important to you, your family and thousands in Ohio. Ask them to make the public health crisis of Alzheimer’s a priority in Ohio.

We must do better, Ohio. Better for the thousands of Ohioans struggling now, and for the thousands more expected to be impacted by Alzheimer’s as our state undergoes unprecedented aging.

Dr. Michael and Melody Bain live in South Lebanon.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio must improve addressing Alzheimer’s public health crisis