The Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act draws attention to greater NIH funding directed to Alzheimer’s.
The Alzheimer’s Association makes it easy for you to have YOUR VOICE HEARD by clicking on then completing the easy-to-use form at:
Ask your Representative to Cosponsor the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act
[7/28/2019 TCV Ed. Link no longer operational.]
You may even send in their pre-drafted letter or customize it as I’ve done–see my letter below.
To: Buck McKeon
From: Brenda Avadian
As a daughter and niece of three victims to the ravages of dementia (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease), I know first-hand the toll it takes on families and ultimately nations when this disease is allowed to spread unchecked.
We NEED a CURE…We need to better understand this disease so that YOU and your FAMILY are not victims too.
I URGE you to co-sponsor the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act of 2011 (H.R.1897).
Passage of this bipartisan legislation would require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to accelerate the development of treatments that prevent, cure, or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and reduce the financial burden of Alzheimer’s on federally funded programs and families.
The Medicare and Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer’s — currently at $130 billion — will increase to more than $800 billion (in today’s dollars) by 2050. However, if a treatment became available in 2015 that delayed the onset of Alzheimer’s disease for five years (treatment similar to the effect of anti-cholesterol drugs on preventing heart disease), it would cut Medicare and Medicaid spending on Alzheimer’s nearly in half by 2050.
America has made progress against cancer, heart disease, and HIV because of the Federal government’s commitment to combat them.
However, the VOICES of those with Alzheimer’s disease are not heard.
Deaths from Alzheimer’s have increased 66 percent between 2000 and 2008. Imagine today, 1 new person is diagnosed every 69 seconds.
The Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act is the cornerstone of improving Alzheimer’s research at NIH. It will accelerate Alzheimer’s research outcomes across all Institutes and Centers of the NIH — taking into account the research priorities identified by the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (P.L. 111-375) plan. It will also create innovative public-private partnerships, and ensure that the NIH requests the funding necessary to get the job done.
Scientists believe we are at a tipping point on Alzheimer’s research. We have the ideas, the technology and the will. Now we need an appropriate commitment from the federal government. As a constituent living in your district and an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association, I urge you to cosponsor the Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act (H.R. 1897).
Thank you for considering this important legislation.
Brenda Avadian
P.O. Box 589
Pearblossom, CA 93553-0589
US
