research for the fiscal year of 2019, starting October 1st. On September 26th the bill was approved by the house in its final form by a 361-61 vote. It was then signed into law on September 28th, 2018. The appropriations bill included a $425 million increase in Alzheimer’s research funding, totalling $2.3 billion. This marks the largest boost in funding for Alzheimer’s research in history. The funding will go to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to be allocated toward research, treatment, and care for people living with Alzheimer’s.

The $857 billion bill was lead by Sen. Roy Blunt (chairman of Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS) and laid out spending for the departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) were the primary advocates of the $425 million increase. This is the fourth year in a row that research funding for Alzheimer’s has been increased at the NIH, appropriate to match the dramatically increasing prevalence of the disease. Currently 5.7 million people in the United States live with Alzheimer’s and this number is expected to nearly triple to 13.8 million people by 2050 with a projected annual spending of $1.1 trillion if an effective treatment is not found.

The Alzheimer’s Association states that with this increase in funding, “scientists are able to work at a more rapid pace to advance basic disease knowledge, explore ways to reduce risk, uncover new biomarkers for early diagnosis and drug targeting, and develop potential treatments.”

Bibliography:

• “$425 Million Increase in Alzheimer’s Research Funding Passes U.S. Senate.” Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Association, 23 Aug. 2018
• Alzheimer’s Research Receives Largest Ever Funding Boost in 2019 Budget.” Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Association, 28 Sept. 2018
• Bowers, Lois A., and Lois. “Legislation with $425 Million Increase for Alzheimer’s Headed to President’s Desk -.” McKnight’s Senior Living, 29 Sept. 2018