CITY OF FRESNO
Office of Councilmember Mike Karbassi
WHEREAS , The month of June 2026 has been declared Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month to help educate the public on this debilitating disease, increase efforts to combat its human and economic costs, and encourage all Californians to take charge of their brain health; and
WHEREAS , Brain health is a lifelong priority, not an issue limited to older age. This month is designed to raise awareness to understand how to reduce the risk of cognitive decline as a public health priority. There are meaningful actions that can protect brain he alth — and this month brings attention to ensure that science reaches people and systems in ways that make a real difference. We are building momentum to connect efforts across individuals, communities, workplaces and health care, we can build a more equitable framework to support cognitive health and help reduce dementia risk for everyone; and WHEREAS , California has 720,000 residents living with Alzheimer’s disease - more than any other state in the nation - and 14,643 Fresno County residents as of 2019; and
WHEREAS , Alzheimer’s disease was the leading cause of death in adults 85 years and older and the second leading cause of death overall in 2024, as stated in the 2026 California State of Public Health Report WHEREAS , Recent research published by the California Department of Public Health in 2021 indicates that, over the next 20 years, the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia will increase dramatically. While the population of California will expand by 16 percent, the population of people living with Alzheimer’s disease will expand by 127 percent; and WHEREAS , Research on the expansion of people living with Alzheimer’s disease showed communities of color will shoulder a disproportionate share of the increase in the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease. The number of Latinx or Hispanic Californians living with Alzheimer’s disease will nearly triple by 2040. Additionally, the number of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders living with Alzheimer’s disease will more than double; and WHEREAS , Californians with dementia will visit emergency departments nearly 1,000,000 times per year and are readmitted to the hospital one out of five times after discharge; and
WHEREAS , Alzheimer’s disease is a family disease, impacting 1,403,000 California spouses, partners, children, siblings, grandchildren, and other relatives who provide unpaid assistance to a loved one; and WHEREAS , California caregivers devote approximately 1,900,000,000 hours of unpaid assistance to family members, valued at over $53,200,000,000 in nongovernmental financial support; and WHEREAS , Disparities in detection and diagnosis persist, resulting in less than 50 percent of individuals affected by the disease receiving a formal diagnosis that is disclosed to them by a clinician and documented in their medical record; and WHEREAS , On average, a person 65 years of age and older lives 4 to 8 years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, but may live as long as 20 years, depending on other factors; and
WHEREAS , Age is the greatest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, which has no proven way to prevent it and currently has no cure; and
WHEREAS , Californians invest in Alzheimer’s disease research through the voluntary contribution funds and have raised more than $25,000,000 since its inception for research into treatments to slow the progression of, and develop a cure for, the disease; and WHEREAS , Individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers need acknowledgment, support, and services to meet their needs over the lengthy progression of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, Mayor Jerry Dyer and the Fresno City Council, hereby proclaim the month of June to be:
“Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and
affixed the seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 18 th
day of June 2026.
_____________________________________________ __________________________________________ JERRY DYER, Honorable Mayor MIKE KARBASSI, Councilmember District 2
_____________________________________________ __________________________________________ NELSON ESPARZA, Council President TYLER MAXWELL, Council Vice President
_____________________________________________ __________________________________________ ANNALISA PEREA, Councilmember District 1 MIGUEL ARIAS, Councilmember District 3
_____________________________________________ __________________________________________ BRANDON VANG, Councilmember District 5 NICK RICHARDSON, Councilmember District 7