Kansas City, Mo. — Former U.S. Rep Dennis Moore, who represented Kansas for 12 years in Congress, announced Wednesday he is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and plans to work to bring awareness to “this insidious disease.”
“It is not an easy thing to hear. But this is the hand I have been dealt, and Stephene (his wife) and I are committed to using the opportunity we have to help make sure this insidious disease gets more public attention,” his statement said.
Moore, a Democrat, was first elected to Congress in 1998 and went on to represent Kansas’ 3rd District until he announced he would not seek re-election for the term that ended in 2011. His wife, Stephene Moore, sought his House seat but was defeated by then-state Rep. Kevin Yoder, a Republican.
The 3rd Congressional District covers Johnson and Wyandotte counties and the eastern portion of Douglas County, including parts of Lawrence.
Moore, 66, said in a statement that he had an initial consultation with physicians in February 2011 and additional testing, followed by a final diagnosis in June 2011.
“The good news is that I feel fine and I’m truly enjoying being with my family and friends on a more regular basis since I retired from Congress,” the statement said. “I know there will be good days and some not so good days over the long term. I wanted to make this announcement now to help draw some attention to Alzheimer’s and to early onset dementia.”
He and his wife plan to work with the Heart of America Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
“In the meantime, we appreciate your respect for our privacy as we also focus on my own health,” the statement said.
Yoder said he was saddened to hear the news and praised Moore.
“As a community, we thank him for his many years of service to our country and for representing the 3rd District honorably while in Congress,” Yoder said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Moore family as they deal with this difficult disease, and our hearts go out to the millions of Americans who struggle every day with the challenges Alzheimer’s brings.”
Comments
Jean Robart 5 years, 5 months ago
This is so sad. I was not a Dennis Moore supporter, but to see someone of his stature and intelligence hit by this vicious disease is a true tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.
justforfun 5 years, 5 months ago
So agree!! x 100 on all accounts
George_Braziller 5 years, 5 months ago
All of the memory-robbing diseases and syndromes are pretty awful. I think it's even worse for the family than the individual. My dad had Pick's Dementia but he wasn't really conscious of it because he couldn't see it.
In less than seven years he went from building furniture and riding a motorcycle to not even recognizing his own children.
Cait McKnelly 5 years, 5 months ago
This is so sad. He was like Bob Dole to a Democrat; even if you didn't agree with his politics you still had to respect him as a statesman.
Scott Morgan 5 years, 5 months ago
cait, really Bob Dole?
Cait McKnelly 5 years, 5 months ago
Yes. I actually liked and respected Mr. Dole. I didn't vote for him but he's a heckuva lot classier than our present ex-senator/governor.
Scott Morgan 5 years, 5 months ago
Moore = Dole ?? yikes. Dole was internationally recognized and respected.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 years, 5 months ago
Dole's main claim to fame was from being Nixon's hatchet man while he was clinging to his failed presidency.
jaywalker 5 years, 5 months ago
Right. It's certainly not his 27 years in the Senate, two stints as Majority Leader, VP candidacy, Presidential candidacy, two Purple Hearts and Bronze Star, Institute of Politics he endowed at KU to bring bipartisanship back, his constant fight against world hunger, his.........
What a maroon.
storm 5 years, 5 months ago
Thank you. Well said!
verity 5 years, 5 months ago
Even though I didn't know Mr Moore personally, this hits hard. There are some treatments to hold off effects for awhile and I'm glad that he and Mrs Moore will be using their influence to being further attention and perhaps some progress in treatment of a truly heartbreaking disease.
ivalueamerica 5 years, 5 months ago
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Pete Kennamore 5 years, 5 months ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
George_Braziller 5 years, 5 months ago
I knew it wouldn't take long before someone made a stupid comment like this.
Phillbert 5 years, 5 months ago
He's 66, so just like his constituents he is eligible for Medicare.
Take your pot shots somewhere else.
Kendall Simmons 5 years, 5 months ago
Apparently My_Life believes all those "Members of Congress" emails about lifetime pensions and unbelievable healthcare that you're supposed to forward to everyone you know.
I mean, why on earth would you want to check the facts for yourself? After all, the emails say that the totally-unknown-to-you person who wrote the email has "verified it", so why on earth would you question the credibility of a total stranger?
Personal responsibility? Bah, humbug.
dlkrm 5 years, 5 months ago
Congresspersons do not pay into social security or medicare and do not receive social security or medicare. They get an all expenses paid, cadillac plan (you know, the ones Obama demonizes). But don't let the facts confuse you.
Phillbert 5 years, 5 months ago
You are 100% wrong. http://www.snopes.com/politics/socialsecurity/pensions.asp
Phillbert 5 years, 5 months ago
dlkrm is wrong, that is. vertigo is correct.
Charlie Bannister 5 years, 5 months ago
The good news is that so much has been learned about this dreaded disease in the last 5 to 10 years. They are doing a lot of the research right in KC. They are starting to understand more about delaying the effects on the brain. God speed to the researchers.
Scott Morgan 5 years, 5 months ago
For the love of Mike, please do not do the Reagan type Alzheimer’s jokes again on Moore. For you politically correct folks, the lib media late night shows did exactly this to Ronnie so often ABC,NBC, CBS actually recognized the fact mocking conservatives was not everyone's idea of fun.
Or, in plain English the media discovered they were losing money by joking about a beloved president.
Even plainer English. No commercials which made TV free.
Even plainer English.............Toyota Pweeze stop now, or no more yen.
Scott Morgan 5 years, 5 months ago
At this time Letterman and others could get away with a great deal more due to the net being in the infant age. I remember so so many digs at him, I finally quit watching Limo Lib Letterman. Others took cheap shots as well.
op 10 Signs that Ronald Reagan is Recovering - September 20, 1989
Kendall Simmons 5 years, 5 months ago
Uh...aren't you asking everyone to behave in a 'politically correct' manner? Because that's sure what it sounds like to me.
meggers 5 years, 5 months ago
The Reagan jokes occurred BEFORE it was known that he had Alzheimer's. It's silly to blame people for something they weren't even aware of.
Scott Morgan 5 years, 5 months ago
It was well known long before mi amigo.
tomatogrower 5 years, 5 months ago
Sorry to hear it. This is such a sad disease.
labmonkey 5 years, 5 months ago
There is a long road ahead for him and his wife. No age is a good age to be diagnosed with alheizmer's, but 66 seems way too young.
This is the second high profile person who is under 70 to be diagnosed that I can think of lately... Pat Summit being the other. I am curious if Doctors are just catching it earlier, or if the early onset alheizmers is a fairly new discovery.
Katara 5 years, 5 months ago
My understanding is that awareness of the symptoms has increased due to educational efforts and this gets people to the doctor at an earlier stage.
Also, the diagnostic tests are more sophisticated so it is easier to detect it early on.
Lenette Hamm 5 years, 5 months ago
Moore is an outstanding man, and it saddens me greatly to hear of this.
Jean Robart 5 years, 5 months ago
why aren't the comments displayed for this story?
speedykitty 5 years, 5 months ago
Congr. Moore is not my party, nor congressional district but this is a very sad situation.
I have been watching Glen Campbell's career with his Alzheimer's announced last summer. I saw him perform to two huge crowds at Branson in early December. I think almost everyone agrees his music is very important to keeping him functioning with Alzheimer's. He is still successfully touring with his children and wife, and playing to adoring crowds. He still has his strong voice, and plays fantastic guitar.
I seem to remember Congressman Moore playing guitar, and that would be nice to entertain older citizens in some of the assisted living facilities, and other senior venues. The music might be helpful to him also.
pace 5 years, 5 months ago
I commend Mr. and Mrs. Moore for their candor. It is a situation that will change many families. The more our community learns about the condition the more the families will find support in the community. good luck to them.
think_about_it 5 years, 5 months ago
So now we are just to forgive him for hiding from his constituents and helping to cram ObamaCare down our throats? I think not.
think_about_it 5 years, 5 months ago
His voting record was what Nancy Pelosi told him to do 98% of the time. Lock- step. That takes no thought at all.
WilburM 5 years, 5 months ago
The callousness of these comments are almost impossible to fathom. Dennis Moore's constituents considered themselves well represented, to the extent that they elected him in a GOP-leaning district six times. He served JoCo well as a DA and a JCCC trustee. He voted his conscience and took the consequences.
Now he faces a tragic disease, and you can do nothing but bash him in the most partisan of ways.
That's beyond pathetic.
meggers 5 years, 5 months ago
+10
Some people have no shame. I didn't always agree with Representative Moore's political positions, however I believe he is a man of integrity and I wish him and his family all of the best.
rtwngr 5 years, 5 months ago
I'll tell you what's pathetic and callous. A country where a person can grow up to be president if they can survive 9 months in the womb without being ripped limb from limb because you aren't "convenient." Moore celebrated that.
kernal 5 years, 5 months ago
It doesn't matter which side of the political fence a person is on, this is an insidious disease and political bashing has no place with this topic.
jonas_opines 5 years, 5 months ago
One of these days I'll come onto a message board off an article that is about a terrible or tragic thing, and not see classless comments.
/Ok, no I probably won't. But it would be nice if it did.
Over the last four or five years, I've watched in interim my grandmother forget who I am. Thankfully I made time to visit, early, so we could have a little last bit of time together. What's happening to her fills her with pain, on some level, and a nursing home facility that deals with Alzheimer's patients is one of the most depressing places that you could ever spend time in. It is a terrible disease, and if you feel the need to make a politically charged or sarcastic comment, I suggest that you maybe volunteer at such a place for just an afternoon. Maybe you'll learn to think, first, before you believe that you're funny or witty.
think_about_it 5 years, 5 months ago
Say what you want about me and my opinions. I still stand behind them.
This man went out of his way to do as much harm to this country as possible. My statements aren't meant to be political. They are facts. He caused direct harm to many of his constituents and then hid from them like a scared little child. Pathetic.
tolawdjk 5 years, 5 months ago
"I stand behind my opinions. Now I am going to claim my opinions as "factual" and use them as justification for feeling good about a man getting some "justice" for all the direct harm he caused his constituents."
Yep, there certainly was something pathetic in that post of yours.
1julie1 5 years, 5 months ago
The pathetic thing about think_about_it is that he is dumb enough to say "I stand behind" my opinions, and then he posts anonymously.
Phillbert 5 years, 5 months ago
Says the person using an anonymous screen name to bash someone who just announced he has Alzheimer's.
The last word of your comment is a perfect description of your comments on this story.
Paul R Getto 5 years, 5 months ago
+1
pace 5 years, 5 months ago
So I am assuming both your parent were drunks.
lawslady 5 years, 5 months ago
Even though I normally eschew politicians and vote against (not for) people, he is one person that I not only voted for but once even gave some funds. Why? Because you could trust him to do what he said he would do. If he didn't agree with you/something, he was not kind to your face while sticking a knife in your back. His kind of politician is now a rare breed. The type who lead by example, tried to always be truthful, and did not treat others as if they were mere commodities useful only when he wanted money or votes. You could disagree with him, and still respect each other. I am saddened by this news, but proud of him and his family for coming forward and being honest about his condition. It shows, again, the level of class and attention to public service that has marked his career. Well done Congressman. Well done.
irvan moore 5 years, 5 months ago
he was/is a pretty good guy congressman or not. i think this is a tragedy for him and his family and i would hope those who want to slam him for his political beliefs will never have to deal with a disease like this in their family privately, let alone publicly. the story has nothing to do with politics. it's about a family having the courage to deal with a problem in a way that might later help others. safe journey, you deserve it.
Scott Morgan 5 years, 5 months ago
brownbackistan actually super tell us about brownbackistan, and compare Kansas state laws to say Spain, or Le France, how about Japan.
nativeson 5 years, 5 months ago
There are some situations that transcend personal politics, and this is one of those situations. I lost an immediate family member to Alzheimer's after 13 years. The disease knows no party affiliation, and it is a tragic circumstance for those who will support him. My prayers go out to them.
Scott Morgan 5 years, 5 months ago
Which BTW was why I mentioned the hate tossed Reagan's way by many including super lib - women's rights -sexual harassment -live off the land as long as I own most of it greenie David Letterman treating him so poorly. My hope is we honor a fine representative.
Paul R Getto 5 years, 5 months ago
Thanks, Mr. Moore, for your service. Good luck and thanks for your candor. Sadly, treatment of this disease will be another growth industry. Let us hope the research, including stem cells, moves forward to try and help victims and their families and maybe, someday, to find more effective treatments and perhaps a cure.
Mike Ford 5 years, 5 months ago
I remember seeing Mr. Moore in the outfield area of the Royals-Giants interleague game in June 2003. He was always a dignifed educated person....especially on Native American issues. He stood by the Wyandottes when the tribes now in Kansas attacked them. He wrote a proposed congressional bill for the Kansas Munsees I've worked with. He was a Blue Dog Democrat. In the current environment of political purity to the extent of appearing fascist in nature....Mr. Moore advocated an educated point of middle ground involving that hated word of the purists/fascists....political compromise. The reason for the all of the juvenile and immature comments on here is that none of those posters are coherent enough to understand the necessity of political compromise. They follow nothing except red meat. Mr. Moore beat Vince Snowbarger, Chris Kobach, Nick Jordan, and some other immaterial people because voters back then understood the necessity of compromise for the good of both parties. People who get off on baiting arguements with pointless comments aren't capable of thinking enough to understand the necessity of compromise. All I've heard is a bunch of hating. He beat the GOP at will for a couple of terms. He will be remembered as a good Kansas politician in a current state of unthinking boot steppers.
rtwngr 5 years, 5 months ago
Not by me he won't.
lunacydetector 5 years, 5 months ago
Alzheimer’s disease cannot be diagnosed with 100% certainty until after death.
Patricia Kirk 5 years, 5 months ago
I'm so sorry.
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