ME SP0784

Recognizes May 2025 as National Arthritis Awareness Month in Maine, continuing a designation first established by President Nixon and Congress in 1972

Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States, affecting nearly 60 million people, with 26 million unable to perform everyday activities

More than 100 types of arthritis exist, affecting 1 in 4 adults and hundreds of thousands of children; about two-thirds of those affected are under age 65

Arthritis costs the U.S. economy over $300 billion annually in medical bills, lost wages, and associated expenses

Urges Maine citizens to learn more about arthritis, raise awareness of its public health and economic impacts, and contribute to finding a cure