Thanks to our hardworking advocates and congressional champions, critical bipartisan policy priorities to address Alzheimer’s and dementia across the nation were accomplished in the 117th Congress. We’re taking a look back at the policies implemented to improve the lives of individuals impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

The ENACT Act: Key provisions of the ENACT Act, signed into law in December 2022, will increase the participation of underrepresented populations in Alzheimer’s clinical trials by expanding education and outreach to these populations, encouraging the diversity of clinical trial staff and reducing the burden of participation. AIM was proud to work with other stakeholders and organizations to help address health disparities in Alzheimer’s and dementia research.

Accelerated Approval: Through the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) accelerated approval pathway, people living with an unmet medical need — like Alzheimer’s and other dementia — can gain earlier access to new and innovative treatments. By including critical elements first introduced in the bipartisan Modernizing Accelerated Approval Act in the fiscal year 2023 (FY23) budget, the FDA will better utilize the accelerated approval pathway and strengthen transparency throughout the process. We were proud to work with bipartisan congressional champions and other voluntary health care groups to strengthen and preserve this pathway.

Research and Public Health Infrastructure Funding: Thanks to the leadership of longtime bipartisan congressional champions, a sustained investment in Alzheimer’s and dementia research continues into FY23 with a $226 million increase for Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding at the NIH. Added to current NIH spending, the annual Alzheimer's and dementia research funding by the federal government will be more than $3.7 billion.

Congress also included $33 million to implement the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (P.L. 115-406) for FY23. The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen the public health infrastructure across the country by implementing effective Alzheimer’s interventions focused on public health issues such as increasing early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk and preventing avoidable hospitalizations. 

During the last two years, we saw our nation take a significant step forward to address the Alzheimer’s and dementia public health crisis. Thank you to our outstanding advocates and congressional champions for their dedication to the Alzheimer’s community. Together, in the 118th Congress and beyond, we will continue the fight to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.