Needed: More Funding for Alzheimer's Research

By Nancy Wurtzel

Here’s an update on funding for Alzheimer’s research: In June, The Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee proposed a $400 million increase for Alzheimer’s research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Chairman Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) led the bipartisan proposal.

I burst into tears when I read about it on Facebook. If the increase becomes reality, this is incredibly good news.  No, this funding does NOT get us on a NIH research par with many other major diseases, but the increases made in just a few years is encouraging.

Leading researchers say we need to get to the $2 billion mark in order to make a difference in Alzheimer’s disease.  Current funding is just under $1 billion, leaving a deficit of $600 million plus to get to that goal.

Personally, I have to keep reminding myself how far we have come in a few years.  This NIH additional funding was brought about by the massive effort of several organizations, probably most significantly The Alzheimer’s Association, and by regular folks — people like you and me — who appealed to their Congressional representatives to do the right thing.

Kudos to all who played their part.

I hope very soon I can write another post like this one.  We need it to happen.

As always, thanks for reading.