On Tuesday, legislators and advocates wore purple and filled the Oklahoma House of Representatives in a show of support for Alzheimer's Awareness Advocacy Day. 

Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, and Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang, were joined on the House floor by Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, and Alzheimer's awareness advocates John Pellow and Debbie Elliot.

"Alzheimer’s Awareness Day is about honoring those living with this disease and the caregivers who support them every day," Miller said. "I’m grateful to everyone who joined us at the Capitol to share their stories and for my colleagues who stand with us in raising awareness and pushing for progress."

According to the Oklahoma chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, approximately 70,000 Oklahomans are currently living with Alzheimer's, with over 100,000 caregivers supporting them.

Hill reflected on his father-in-law's 11-year journey with Alzheimer's, sharing the emotional toll it took on each member of the family. He called for continued investment in care and research for treatment and potential cures, stressing the hereditary nature of the disease and its lingering effects on families.

"For the families that are here today representing those that they love that are affected, my hope is that we will continue as a state and as a nation to invest in care, but also invest in possibilities of treatment and an eventual cure of this disease," Hill said. "It truly leaves a lasting mark on families, and with it being hereditary, for those families who deal with this, there's always a cloud by which we consider our futures."

Miller said Alzheimer's Awareness Advocacy Day helps raise awareness of the disease's impact across the state and encourages policies that better support those with the disease and their caregivers.

Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. To find resources, including the 10 early signs of the disease, visit alz.org/oklahoma.