Florida Senate - 2026 (NP) SR By Senator Brodeur 10-02278A-26 20261784__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Senate Resolution A resolution designating May as “PSP Awareness Month” in Florida and recognizing the commitment of patients, their families, and health care professions to increase awareness and research regarding progressive supranuclear palsy and other neurodegenerative diseases. 7

WHEREAS, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is one of many neurodegenerative brain disorders affecting the aging population, causing progressive gait and balance difficulties, 11 frequent falls, ocular impairment, slow or stiff movement, 12 slurred speech, mood or behavioral changes, and cognitive decline, and

WHEREAS, PSP is one of the most common forms of atypical parkinsonism, based on more than studies, with an estimated prevalence in Florida of approximately cases per 100,000 residents from to 2023, and the mean age of onset is typically between and years of age, and

WHEREAS, neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; Huntington’s disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease; and other disorders and forms of dementia, and

WHEREAS, in 2024, the Legislature passed CS/SB 186, the 24 “Justo R. Cortes Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Act,” which directed the State Surgeon General to establish a policy committee on PSP and other neurodegenerative diseases and to have the committee submit a report of its findings to Governor Ron DeSantis and the Legislature by January 4, 2026, and Florida Senate - 2026 (NP) SR 1784 10-02278A-26 20261784__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

WHEREAS, the policy committee’s findings include an estimated direct medical cost for PSP in the United States of 31 $25.4 billion per year, along with estimated indirect and nonmedical costs of $26.5 billion annually for such things as missed work, lost wages, forced early retirement, and family caregiver time, and

WHEREAS, PSP and Parkinson’s disease share similar symptoms, resulting in misdiagnosis and potential delay in critical care and support, and the policy committee concluded that identification and early diagnosis of these disorders is vital, and

WHEREAS, patients with these neurodegenerative diseases have complex needs that require a multidisciplinary approach to care involving physicians, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, 43 allied health providers, and caregivers, and

WHEREAS, the policy committee recommendations include addressing the need to identify risk factors that would aid in detection of the diseases, understanding how the diseases impact residents, developing the standards of care necessary for effective treatment, and crafting policy recommendations to help improve patient and caregiver awareness of PSP and other neurodegenerative diseases, and

WHEREAS, progress in addressing the devastating impact of PSP and related conditions depends upon increasing the public’s awareness of the diseases, as well as public health initiatives to educate individuals about early symptoms, promoting more intensive research efforts, and educating health care practitioners on recognizing signs and symptoms related to PSP and similar disorders,

NOW, THEREFORE, 58 Florida Senate - 2026 (NP) SR 1784 10-02278A-26 20261784__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 59

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 60 That the Senate designates May as “PSP Awareness Month” in Florida and recognizes the commitment of patients, 63 their families, and health care professions to increase awareness and research regarding progressive supranuclear palsy and other neurodegenerative diseases. 66