Alzheimer Advocates Urge Doubling of Federal Funding

Hundreds of advocates kicked off the Alzheimer's Association Public Policy Forum with a candlelight vigil at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, March 18.

Advocates at the Alzheimer's Association 19th Annual Public Policy Forum stormed Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 20, to urge their legislators to support the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act of 2007. The legislation seeks to double Alzheimer research funding at the National Institutes of Health, expand brain health promotion activities at the Centers for Disease Control and continue funding Alzheimer support programs.

During an update on Alzheimer research, Richard Hodes, M.D., director of the National Institute on Aging, told the advocates that since 2003, funding has been flat or decreased for the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Aging.  

"Scientists have never seen a funding situation as dire as it is today," said Sam Gandy, M.D., Ph.D., chair, Alzheimer's Association Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee. He noted that the U.S. is losing the lead in basic disease research.

Visit our 2007 Forum recap page and photo gallery.