WASHINGTON, D.C., July 11, 2018 The House Appropriations Committee approved a $401 million increase for Alzheimer's and dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the 2019 fiscal year. If signed into law, funding would reach $2.3 billion, a more than quadrupling of funding since the passage of the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA).
"We are grateful to the House Appropriations Committee for renewing its commitment to finding an effective treatment, prevention and one day cure for this devastating disease," said Harry Johns, Alzheimer's Association and Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) President and CEO. "The increase allows the NIH to continue and accelerate their work to move the field forward."
Due to increases in research funding scientists are making progress toward the first goal of the National Plan - to effectively treat and prevent Alzheimer's by 2025. Since the passage of the Alzheimer's Accountability Act, legislation championed by the Alzheimer's Association and AIM, NIH scientists have - through an annual professional judgement budget - requested from Congress the resources needed to meet this goal. Today's decision by the House Appropriations Committee is consistent with the request made by the NIH for total FY2019 funding.
The bipartisan congressional effort was led by Representative Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Representative Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) and Representative Rosa DeLauro. Alzheimer's Association and AIM advocates have held thousands of meetings with their elected officials sharing their personal stories of how Alzheimer's has affected them, and calling on Congress to increase research funding at the NIH.
In June the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $425 million increase in its budget markup. As Congress works over the next few months to finalize the FY19 budget, the Alzheimer's Association and AIM will work with Congress to ensure the highest possible research funding amount for Alzheimer's and dementia at the NIH.
Alzheimer's Association ®
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit alz.org.
