Tell Congress: Take Action to End Alzheimer's
- by: BrightFocus Foundation
- recipient: United States Congress
All of us trying to end Alzheimer's disease have good reason to be worried about the gridlock on Capitol Hill. It's time for us to take action.
When the federal government's fiscal year began in October, Congress was not able to agree on how to fund key agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The best they could do was a stop-gap plan to run until December 11. This Band-Aid approach freezes federal research at its current level.
The good news is that grassroots support from across the country led the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to recommend significant increases in Alzheimer's research at NIH.
But the bad news is that if Congress cannot agree on a full-year spending plan, and instead does another 'fix,' this big step forward on Alzheimer's may never happen.
All of us who know someone with Alzheimer's know we cannot wait another day. But we need to remind Congress of that.
When the federal government's fiscal year began in October, Congress was not able to agree on how to fund key agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The best they could do was a stop-gap plan to run until December 11. This Band-Aid approach freezes federal research at its current level.
The good news is that grassroots support from across the country led the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to recommend significant increases in Alzheimer's research at NIH.
But the bad news is that if Congress cannot agree on a full-year spending plan, and instead does another 'fix,' this big step forward on Alzheimer's may never happen.
All of us who know someone with Alzheimer's know we cannot wait another day. But we need to remind Congress of that.
Dear [ Representative],
As someone who strongly cares about finding a cure for Alzheimer's, I am urging you to please include the proposed $350 million increase in Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health for Fiscal Year 2016. This amount was recommended earlier this year by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
[Your comment will be added here]
The threat of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias to our nation's health and finances are well known. More than 5 million Americans are estimated to be living with Alzheimer's disease today, a population that may triple by mid-century. Alzheimer's disease alone is estimated to cost our nation collectively more than $200 billion annually, about 70 percent of which is borne by Medicare and Medicaid. If the current trajectory remains unchanged, the total cost of this disease likely will exceed $1 trillion annually by 2050.
A study released in 2014 indicates that each year more than a half-million deaths are attributable to Alzheimer's disease, which would make it the nation's third leading cause of death. Despite this, Alzheimer's disease is the only leading cause of death that lacks any disease-modifying treatment or means of prevention.
Recognizing this threat, Congress enacted the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) in late 2010, which resulted in the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease. This plan established several goals, including preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer's disease by 2025. While setting this goal was a significant step, it will be achieved only by committing the necessary public and private resources to accomplish that aim.
Please strongly support this proposed increase in Alzheimer's disease research.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionAs someone who strongly cares about finding a cure for Alzheimer's, I am urging you to please include the proposed $350 million increase in Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health for Fiscal Year 2016. This amount was recommended earlier this year by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
[Your comment will be added here]
The threat of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias to our nation's health and finances are well known. More than 5 million Americans are estimated to be living with Alzheimer's disease today, a population that may triple by mid-century. Alzheimer's disease alone is estimated to cost our nation collectively more than $200 billion annually, about 70 percent of which is borne by Medicare and Medicaid. If the current trajectory remains unchanged, the total cost of this disease likely will exceed $1 trillion annually by 2050.
A study released in 2014 indicates that each year more than a half-million deaths are attributable to Alzheimer's disease, which would make it the nation's third leading cause of death. Despite this, Alzheimer's disease is the only leading cause of death that lacks any disease-modifying treatment or means of prevention.
Recognizing this threat, Congress enacted the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) in late 2010, which resulted in the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease. This plan established several goals, including preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer's disease by 2025. While setting this goal was a significant step, it will be achieved only by committing the necessary public and private resources to accomplish that aim.
Please strongly support this proposed increase in Alzheimer's disease research.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
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