Funding the Ever-Increasing Demand for Alzheimer’s Research and Solutions

• It is projected that by 2050, 12.7 million people ages 65 and over will develop AD.
• Congress works with the NIH to increase annual federal funding for Alzheimer’s research to more than $3.5 billion.
• The National Plan set a goal to prevent and effectively treat AD by 2025.
• The AAIC recommends getting your annual flu shot to decrease chances of AD.

Alzheimer’s Disease is known as “the disease of the twentieth century.”

The U.S. population has seen a rise of AD in people ages 65 and over.

According to 2022 U.S. data, this specific population with Alzheimer’s dementia, “…is projected to reach 12.7 million” by 2050.^[1]

Extensive research shows evidence linking this chronic deterioration to genetic and environmental factors.

More Federal Funding

Four FDA-approved drugs for AD, “are not curative and are unable to stop the disease from worsening over time.”^[2]

By 2025, the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease set a goal to “prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease…”.^[3]

A combination of National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) funds and NIH spending increases annual federal funding to more than $3.5 billion.^[4]

Push Toward Vaccinations

At the 2020 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), it was reported that, “Flu (influenza) and pneumonia vaccinations are associated with reduced risk of Alzeimer’s disease…”.^[5]

Maria C. Carriollo, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer states that, “vaccines are at the forefront of public health discussions.” She encourages the exploration of vaccines on long-term health outcomes.

Sources:

1. https://www.alz.org/media/documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf
2. https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/brain-and-nerves/alzheimers-disease/treatments/medications.html#:~:text=There%20are%20four%20FDA%2Dapproved,disease%20from%20worsening%20over%20time.
3. https://portal.alzimpact.org/media/serve/id/627eb5bbe8a2a
4. https://alzimpact.org/research#:~:text=Following%20a%20%24289%20million%20increase,be%20more%20than%20%243.5%20billion
5. https://aaic.alz.org/releases_2020/vaccines-dementia-risk.asp