Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 103 Part 1.djvu/181

 PUBLIC LAW 101-58 —JULY 25, 1989 103 STAT. 153 design of potent medications possessing minimal adverse effects that will act on the discrete neurochemical deficits associated with such disorders as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and Alz- heimer's disease; Whereas the incidence of neurologic, psychiatric, psychological, and cognitive disorders and disabilities experienced by older persons will increase in the future as the number of older persons in- creases; Whereas studies of the brain and central nervous system will contribute not only to the relief of neurologic, psychiatric, psycho- logical, and cognitive disorders, but also to the management of fertility and infertility, cardiovascular disease, infectious and parasitic diseases, developmental disabilities and immunologic disorders, as well as to an understanding of behavioral factors that underlie the leading preventable causes of death in this Nation; Whereas the central nervous and immune systems are both signal- ling systems which serve the entire organism, and there are direct connections between the nervous and immune systems, and whereas studies of the modulatory effects of each system on the other will enhance our understanding of diseases as diverse as the major psychiatric disorders, acquired immune deficiency syn- drome, and autoimmune disorders; Whereas recent discoveries have led to fundamental insights as to why people abuse drugs, how abused drugs affect brain function leading to addiction, and how some of these drugs cause perma- nent brain damage; Whereas studies of the brain will contribute to the development of new treatments that will curtail the craving for drugs, break the addictive effects of drugs, prevent the brain-mediated "high" caused by certain abused drugs, and lessen the damage done to the developing minds of babies, who are the innocent victims of drug abuse; Whereas treatment for persons with head injury, developmental disabilities, speech, hearing, and other cognitive functions is increasing in availability and effectiveness; Whereeis the study of the brain involves the multidisciplinary efforts of scientists from such diverse areas as physiology, biochemistry, psychology, psychiatry, molecular biology, anatomy, medicine, genetics, and many others working together toward the common goals of better understanding the structure of the brain and how it affects our development, health, and behavior; Whereas the Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology has been awarded to fifteen neuroscientists within the past twenty-five years, an achievement that underscores the excitement and productivity of the study of the brain and central nervous system and its potential for contributing to the health of humanity; Whereas the people of the Nation should be concerned with research into disorders and disabilities that affect the brain, and should recognize prevention and treatment of such disorders and disabil- ities as a health priority; and Whereas the declaration of the Decade of the Brain will focus needed government attention on research, treatment, and re- habilitation in this area: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the decade beginning January 1, 1990, hereby is designated the "Decade of the

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