"More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, our nation's most expensive disease. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) must continue to have a robust budget in order to effectively address the nation's most pressing health issues. The Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) are deeply concerned that the cuts to the NIH called for in the Trump Administration's FY18 budget request would undercut our current progress.
"Alzheimer's is the only leading cause of death that cannot be prevented, slowed or cured. Unless our nation continues to invest in research we will not meet the first goal of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's - to effectively treat and prevent Alzheimer's by 2025. Today Alzheimer's research funding is at $991 million, yet it will cost the nation $259 billion this year, with $175 billion of that coming in direct Medicare and Medicaid costs.
"As expressed in the overwhelming bipartisan support in the last Congress for the 21st Century Cures Act and corresponding NIH budgetary increases in the appropriations process, support for medical research funding unites Congress, just as it unites Americans. Investing in medical research, particularly for diseases like Alzheimer's with no effective treatments, is compassionate and it is smart. We commend Congress for their leadership on this issue and call on them to ensure that these investments, overwhelmingly supported by the American people, continue to grow.
"The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research, and the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer's research. We know firsthand the importance of investing in innovative research that hold the most potential to change the devastating trajectory of the disease."
Alzheimer's Association ®
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our 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. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit alz.org.
