The Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM), a separately incorporated advocacy affiliate, work independently and together to the extent allowed by law to continue to advance federal and state policy priorities. In collaboration with dedicated and passionate advocates, the Association and AIM achieved many successes in FY24 on the national, state and local levels.

Bipartisan congressional leaders announced a $100 million increase for Alzheimer's and dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health. The efforts of the Association, AIM and volunteers nationwide were instrumental in achieving this funding increase. The bill included $34 million to fund and continue to implement the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act. Congress reintroduced the BOLD Act in FY24 to strengthen the dementia public health infrastructure in communities across the country.

The Association and AIM worked with congressional champions on the introduction of the Accelerating Access to Dementia & Alzheimer's Provider Training (AADAPT) Act into Congress. This bipartisan legislation is aimed at empowering primary care providers to better understand and diagnose Alzheimer's and all other dementia while emphasizing high-quality, person-centered care in community-based settings.

Association and AIM efforts helped lead to the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passing four important bipartisan bills: the NAPA Reauthorization Act, the Alzheimer's Accountability and Investment Act, the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Reauthorization Act and the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act. The Association and AIM urged swift action by Congress to pass these critical bills, which will grow momentum in the fight against Alzheimer's and all other dementia.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) enabled access to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) traditionally approved Alzheimer's treatments. These medications were previously only available to people enrolled in a registry. The Association and AIM partnered with experts and people living with Alzheimer's and their families to urge CMS to change its policy. 

Joanne Pike, DrPH, Alzheimer's Association president and CEO and AIM CEO, testified during a House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing to encourage support for important bipartisan Alzheimer's policy priorities. Pike called for swift enactment of legislation that would enable further strides in understanding, treating and preventing Alzheimer's and all other dementia. Association and AIM advocates attended the hearing to show their support for these vital Alzheimer's policies.

More than 1,000 advocates gathered from all 50 states for the 2024 Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Forum, the nation's premier Alzheimer's disease advocacy event. On Hill Day, advocates shared their stories with elected officials and implored them to advance policies that will help people living with dementia and their caregivers. The advocates met with more than 500 congressional offices, over 80 of which were with a member personally. Meetings were held with all 100 Senate offices and 417 House offices.

At the National Alzheimer's Dinner during the AIM Advocacy Forum, emceed by actor David Hyde Pierce, advocates celebrated public policy victories, and leaders were honored for their roles in making Alzheimer's a national priority. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) received the Alzheimer's Association Lifetime Leadership Award for introducing or cosponsoring many pieces of Alzheimer's legislation.

Between January and June 2024, each state held a State Advocacy Day event at their capitol building, with events usually comprising one day of targeted advocacy but sometimes spanning several days to a week. Across the country, more than 2,000 individuals participated in these events, which are an opportunity to increase the Association and AIM's presence at the state level while building relationships with policymakers.

Alzheimer's advocates secured a record-breaking $247.9 million in dementia-specific funding from state governments, bringing the effective total (when biennial budgets annualized) for 2023 to $227.9 million — a 26.75% increase in total funding compared to 2022. Of the $247.9 million, approximately $40.7 million is for research. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia appropriated state funds for Alzheimer's in 2023.

Biomarkers are measurable biological changes that can show if a disease is present or if a person is at risk. By ensuring access to necessary biomarker testing, states can reduce the time it takes to receive a dementia diagnosis and enable access to disease-modifying treatments and care planning. In FY24, the Association joined with a national coalition of patient advocates committed to ensuring insurance coverage for comprehensive biomarker testing. Six states enacted legislation to help ensure access to biomarker testing.