2018 and the Fight Against Alzheimer’s
According to the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM), the upcoming elections could be a turning point in the funding allotted to Alzheimer’s research. With an estimated 1 in 5 Medicare dollars spent on the disease and someone developing Alzheimer’s every 65 seconds, this disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. Alzheimer’s is also the only leading cause of death without a way to prevent, cure, or even slow its progression.
Elected leaders have increased federal research investment and taken important steps to improve care and support services, and voters rightly expect them to do more to address the Alzheimer’s crisis. According to a nationwide poll, 4 in 5 voters support increasing federal research funding for Alzheimer’s disease. Voters also believe Alzheimer’s poses the greatest risk to their retirement, with those over 45 most concerned. Even Millennials, the largest generation in our nation, already understand that Alzheimer’s poses the greatest risk to their retirement compared to other conditions.
All of this underscores why all politicians, both local and national, should highlight Alzheimer’s as a top policy priority in their campaign.
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