The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services unveiled a national blueprint Tuesday to develop effective prevention and treatment approaches for Alzheimer’s disease. The plan, as directed by the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, will dedicate $100 million in additional funding to fight the disease and related dementias by 2025.

 “This is a national plan, not a federal one, because reducing the burden of Alzheimer’s will require the active engagement of both the public and private sectors,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday in a news release.

Expanding on its February 2012 announcement that it would immediately implement additional research, provider education and public awareness, HHS is scheduling calls to action, including the funding of two major clinical trials; the development of high-quality, up-to-date training and information for clinicians; and a public education campaign and website for families and caregivers, Sebelius said.

Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent form of dementia in the world with more than 5 million sufferers The increased funding coincides with a rapidly growing number of Alzheimer’s patients, which HHS expects to double in coming years.

Sebelius said Tuesday, at the Alzheimer’s Research Summit 2012: Path to Treatment and Prevention, the proposed actions “are the cornerstones of an historic effort to fight Alzheimer’s disease.” The comprehensive plan included input from disease experts; contributions from federal, state, private and non-profit organizations; and submitted comments from more than 3,600 people or organizations before its announcement.

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