Good news for Alzheimer’s research.
The Alzheimer’s Association recently confirmed that Congress has included a $400 million Alzheimer’s research funding increase at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the FY2017 funding bill. Upon approval, this will become the largest Alzheimer’s research funding increase in history. It will also mark the fourth consecutive year Congress has acted on the Alzheimer’s Association’s request to increase research funding for the nation’s most expensive disease. This funding increase will bring Alzheimer’s research funding by the federal government to nearly $1.4 billion per year, a threefold increase over the past five years.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, this funding increase could not have happened without the public’s advocacy through the Alzheimer’s Association and its sister organization, the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM). They encourage people to send a thank you message to your members of Congress.
A few facts about Alzheimer’s disease:
- More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s.
- Every 66 seconds someone in the U.S. develops the disease.
- One in 10 people age 65 and older (10 percent) has Alzheimer’s dementia.
- Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.
- Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost Americans more than $259 billion in 2017.
The Alzheimer’s research funding increase is excellent news for CT seniors. If you are caring for a loved one suffering with Alzheimer’s or dementia, please know that Assisted Living Services is highly trained in providing in-home care for Alzheimer’s patients. We offer part- and full-time care, as well as respite care if you need some time off.
