Urge Congress to Update & Expand our National Plan to Address Alzheimer's.

Advocacy is one of our most powerful tools for fighting for the needs and rights of those impacted by Alzheimer's and supporting the more than 6 million Americans living with this devastating disease. Today, I urge you to make your voice heard on their behalf.

In 2011, the bipartisan National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA), landmark legislation spearheaded by the Alzheimer's Association, was signed into law, resulting in the first National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease with its first goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer's by 2025.

Since then, Alzheimer's and dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has increased more than seven-fold. Following a $289 million increase this past March, annual federal funding for Alzheimer's research now stands at over $3.5 billion. But we know there is more work to be done.

The Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM), a separately incorporated advocacy affiliate, are proud to work with bipartisan congressional champions to grow support for the NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer's Accountability and Investment Act.

The NAPA Reauthorization Act will extend NAPA to build on the progress made in research, clinical and long-term care, and public awareness, and ensure that the nation continues to prioritize addressing Alzheimer's and all other dementia.

The Alzheimer's Accountability and Investment Act would require the NIH to continue to submit an annual professional judgment budget to ensure Congress hears from scientists each year on how much research funding is needed to fully pursue scientific opportunities needed to achieve the goals in the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.

We need your help to make sure Congress keeps Alzheimer's and dementia research funding at the top of their priority list and to build support for this important bipartisan legislation.

We need caring members of our community like you to raise your voice and urge Congress to cosponsor these critical bills.

Alzheimer's has no boundaries. The number of lives taken by this cruel disease increased by 145% between 2000 and 2019. Simply put, Alzheimer's threatens to continue to destroy our families and burden our health care industry financially if we don't prevent, slow or cure the disease.

By adding your voice, you are helping to inspire our leaders to take a stand to address the Alzheimer's crisis. We've made it easy and quick for you, too, by providing sample language for you to use.

Thank you for your support as we further our mission to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

When we act together, we will make a difference.