The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a $414 million increase for Alzheimer’s and dementia research for the fiscal year 2018 budget. Similar action has been taken by the House Appropriations Committee and Alzheimer’s advocates are hopeful that Congress will pass this increase into law in the coming months. If signed into law, federal investment in Alzheimer’s and related dementia research funding would reach $1.8 billion.
The Senate committee described Alzheimer’s as “the most expensive disease in America.’’ The nation spends nearly $260 billion a year caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, with Medicare and Medicaid accounting for two-thirds of that amount.
The Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM), and its supporters have been advocating for a $414 million increase since the start of the 115th Congress. Leading experts say that a greater investment is still needed in order to meet the goal of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease – preventing and treating Alzheimer’s by 2025.
“We applaud this bipartisan effort, and hope to see continued collaboration on behalf of the more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and their over 15 million caregivers who are depending on their representatives to prioritize their health,” said Harry Johns, President and CEO of Alzheimer’s Association and AIM.
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Their mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
The Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization working in strategic partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association. AIM advocates for policies to overcome Alzheimer’s disease, including increased investment in research, improved care and support, and development of approaches to reduce the risk of developing dementia.