Thank Congressman Trott for Voting to Increase Alzheimer's Research Funding

There are more than 5 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States, including 180,000 people in Michigan alone. This year, the annual cost of caring for individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias will reach $259 billion, $175 billion of which comes in direct costs to Medicare and Medicaid. In Michigan, the annual cost is projected to total $1,299 million by year end. Yet in 2016, for every $100 the U.S. government spent on Alzheimer’s research, $16,000 was spent by Medicaid and Medicare to care for those living with the disease.

This, of course, is to say nothing of the human toll that those with the disease and their caregivers experience everyday. As someone who has lost a loved one to the disease, I can not express strongly enough the importance of addressing this issue.

Thankfully, Congress is taking action. Just recently, a $400 million increase in Alzheimer’s research funding was approved. I am proud that Congressman Dave Trott voted for this historic increase.

Alzheimer’s disease is the only leading cause of death without a way to prevent, cure, or even slow its progression. Without the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure the disease, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s is set to triple over the next 35 years, and the cost of care will increase to $1.1 trillion.

This increase to Alzheimer’s research funding brings us one step closer to preventing this future. Through adequate funding and a strong implementation of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, we will work towards our goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer’s by 2025. Please join me in thanking Congressman Dave Trott for his commitment in the fight to end Alzheimer’s.