The 19th Annual Alzheimer's Association Public Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., March 18-20, saw hundreds of advocates storm Capitol Hill to meet with legislators and participate in a Senate hearing on Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, the release of the 2007 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report – which illustrates the impact of Alzheimer's on individuals and families; federal, state and local governments; the healthcare system; and the economy – generated national headlines. (News highlights can be found here.)

Highlights included:

• Hundreds of live and virtual visits on Capitol Hill to educate lawmakers and urge them to increase federal funding for Alzheimer research and programs. The House and Senate office buildings were filled with volunteer advocates wearing purple Alzheimer's Association sashes.

• Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) convened a subcommittee hearing on Alzheimer's disease and the introduction of the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act of 2007 and the Family Assistance Act of 2007. Association CEO Harry Johns; Dr. Marilyn Albert; caregiver Marilyn Blum; Robert Egge of the Center for Health Transformation; and Dr. Sam Gandy, chair of the Association's Medical and Scientific Advisory Council, provided testimony.

• A moving candlelight vigil at the Lincoln Memorial honoring loved ones impacted by Alzheimer's disease.

• Jane Ochrymowycz from the Minnesota-North Dakota chapter was named the 2007 Maureen Reagan Outstanding Advocate Award winner. Kristen Czenszak, a senior at Fordham University, won the first Young Adult Essay Award, sponsored by the Vidinsky family Remember the Future Fund.

The next Public Policy Forum will be May 12-14, 2008.