For the first time, retired Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor testified on Capitol Hill about her husband's battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Since her husband John's Alzheimer's diagnosis in 1990, Sandra Day O'Connor has done her best to care for him, but she said it's hard. "My beloved husband John suffers Alzheimer's. He is not in very good shape at present." 

O'Connor is part of the Alzheimer's study group which is calling on Congress to speed up research and funding for new treatments and help about 10 million caregivers in the U.S.

"Our nation certainly is ready to get deadly serious about this deadly disease," said O'Connor. 

In an interview with Good Morning America, O'Connor discussed the emotional toll of her husband's disease. "It's so painful for someone you care about, to see them disappear, in effect, before your eyes in every way, both mentally and physically. Very depressing."

Over 10 million baby boomers are expected to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in their lifetime and O'Connor says the best way to help those future patients is to act now.

"That's what some of the researchers are experimenting with today, ways to make it possible for people to live longer and more successfully although afflicted with the disease," O'Connor said.

More than five million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease, the number is expected to skyrocket to 16 million by 2050.

Email To A Friend