One in 10 Americans age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s dementia today. Colorado is home to 75,000 of them. Additionally, 256,000 Coloradans are caring for at least one loved one with the disease.
These figures are set to rise 21% over the next five years as more baby boomers reach the age of greatest risk. These numbers are compounded by the fact that, today, there is no way to prevent, treat or cure the disease.
Alzheimer’s is progressive and fatal.
As a co-facilitator of a support group for Alzheimer’s caretakers and a volunteer educator, I have seen many times the terrible toll this disease has physically and mentally on patients and caretakers.
Congress can help change this trajectory. The National Institutes of Health is the largest biomedical research agency in the world, and Congress controls its funding. It’s time to make sure the researchers and scientists at the NIH have what they need to deliver a breakthrough for Alzheimer’s families nationwide.
I am urging Congress to provide an additional $354 million to the NIH next year for this purpose. Thank you, Rep. Scott Tipton, for joining our fight to end Alzheimer’s in Congress and supporting NIH funding. With your help, we’re one step closer to a world without Alzheimer’s.
Judy A. NoelPueblo
