For a long time, funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for Alzheimer's research was stagnant. In 2016, the NIH spent $5.6 billion on cancer research; $3 billion on HIV/AIDS research and $2.1 billion on cardiovascular disease research — but only $991 million on Alzheimer's research. That is one of the reasons why The Judy Fund donors fund the Ambassadors Program, which boasts over 507 Alzheimer's Association advocates who work with legislators nationwide, year-round. Our Ambassadors hold meetings with elected officials sharing their personal stories of how Alzheimer's has affected them, and calling on Congress to increase research funding at the NIH. Thanks to the Alzheimer's Association, its advocacy arm, the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) and its dedicated nationwide network of advocates, Congress has increased our nation's investment. Following three years of historic funding increases, today Alzheimer's research funding at the NIH is $1.9 billion.
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