Alzheimer’s continues to impact millions of families

As Alzheimer’s continues to impact millions of families across this country, federal research funding levels provide a glimmer of hope. In the past decade, Alzheimer’s and related dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have seen historic increases.

Since fiscal year (FY) 2011, funding for Alzheimer’s and dementia at the NIH has grown from $448 million annually to over $2.8 billion in FY 2020. This increase represents a six fold increase over this span. Dementia researchers in Orange County have also benefitted from these increases. In this same time period, awards from the NIH’s National Institute of Aging (NIA) in Orange County have steadily increased from roughly $9 million annually to a high of $52 million.

In addition to supporting jobs in science and economic growth, each project brings us one step closer to finding an end to this terrible disease. Even in the projects that fail, and many do, so much can be learned from their outcomes. Furthermore, increased funding levels help entice new younger researchers in a field that is in much need of a breakthrough.

With every new research project that is funded, we continue to learn more and more about this disease. One particularly exciting area of research that is progressing is the ability to diagnose the disease sooner. Alzheimer’s is most commonly diagnosed through the documentation of mental decline, at which point, the disease would have already caused severe brain damage.

Researchers believe it is possible to detect Alzheimer’s before any devastating symptoms begin. One way of doing so is by analyzing biological markers (biomarkers) in the human body. There are several different biomarkers that are being studied for their potential to detect Alzheimer’s.

Think of this like a blood sugar test. When we go for a physical and get our blood sugar measured, it tells us if we are at risk for diabetes. That is the type of test that researchers are trying to develop for Alzheimer’s. While there are currently no biomarker test approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), researchers are getting close to its development.

These types of breakthroughs would not be possible without the tremendous increases in research funding at the NIH. Next week (December 11th) is the deadline for Congress to pass a spending measure for FY 2021. NIH researchers have recommended an additional $354 million to its annual budget for Alzheimer’s and dementia research.

Recently, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee proposed the $354 million increase for Alzheimer’s and dementia research. If approved, this would bring the annual total to over $3.1 billion. While this figure signifies historic progress for the field, it pales in comparison to what is spent on caring for people with the disease.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual facts and figures report, in FY 2020 caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost our nation over $305 billion, two thirds of which come out of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) annual budget. The amount of public money spent on care represents one fifth of the entire CMS annual budget and is simply unsustainable.

I sincerely hope Congress continues to increase Alzheimer’s research funding. As we’ve seen, making an early investment in research can save us billions of dollars down the line in care. With so much innovative and exciting new information coming out of Alzheimer’s research, we cannot afford to lose momentum in the field.

My mother, grandmother, aunts, and uncle all have/had Alzheimer’s or another dementia related disorder. I am the fulltime care taker of my mother who has this horrible disease. Alzheimer’s and dementia related diseases are devasting not only to the individual but to the family and caretakers.

I have been advocating for the Alzheimer’s Association since 2017. I will continue to spread the word about the disease, resources available and encourage others to sign up to help with research opportunities. I do not want my children, grandchildren or any other family to go through this horrible debilitating mind robbing disease that so deeply scars so many of us.

I am thankful to Rep. Katie Porter, my congresswoman, for signing on to the request for an additional $354 million for Alzheimer’s research earlier this year. I do believe we can end this terrible disease and research will get us there.

Theresa Lane

Lake Forest, CA

Alzheimer’s Association

Ambassador and Advocate Volunteer