Alzheimer’s Association Update

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• Federal Funding for Alzheimer Research to Remain Flat in 2008
• Awareness Program Promotes Heart-Brain Connection Among African-Americans

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Federal Funding for Alzheimer Research to Remain Flat in 2008 

In late December Congress finally completed action on the 2008 federal budget following months of contentious battles between lawmakers and the White House. After attempting to pass legislation that would have increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by nearly four percent—enough for the agency’s budget to at least keep pace with biomedical research inflation for the first time since 2003—Democratic leaders settled instead for rearranging their budget priorities within the President’s overall spending ceiling. As a result, NIH received an increase of $133 million from current spending, leaving most institutes, including the three that support Alzheimer research, virtually flat-funded at the 2007 level ($642 million).

The declining commitment to NIH funding has led to an 8 percent reduction in inflation-adjusted research dollars since 2003 and has already slowed progress in the Alzheimer field. More importantly, the slowdown in funding is beginning to dismantle the research infrastructure by discouraging new scientists from both entering the field and sustaining careers in research. This comes at a time when there is tremendous opportunity in the areas of prevention, treatment and basic understanding of the disease, and at a time when 78 million baby boomers face the threat of the disease now and in the near future.

Looking ahead, Alzheimer advocates will be communicating their support for research funding to candidates at all levels of public office. Recent data from a public opinion poll commissioned by the Alzheimer’s Association indicate that two out of three American adults are more likely to support candidates who will champion increases in Alzheimer research funding.

Advocates will also be communicating to current lawmakers when they come to Washington this spring for the 20^th Annual Alzheimer’s Association Public Policy Forum. The Forum is a two-day meeting held in the nation’s capital that provides extensive information and education on the Association’s policy goals. Attendees travel from across the country to hear from experts in state, local and federal policy and take away tools they can use in their home states to advance our goals. This year’s Forum chair is renowned Alzheimer expert Dr. Steven DeKosky, who has worked with the Association staff to develop an agenda of workshops and plenary sessions that will prepare attendees to take the Association’s policy message directly to elected officials on Capitol Hill.

With the budget battles expected to continue in Washington next year, it is more important than ever that Alzheimer advocates make their voices heard on Capitol Hill. Regardless of the political environment, the most effective advocates are those who are both knowledgeable about the issues and can relate a personal experience with Alzheimer’s disease. Everyone in the scientific community is encouraged to join the Association for the 2008 Public Policy Forum, especially on May 14, our day on Capitol Hill, when we will visit Congressional offices to ask lawmakers to support an immediate increase in federal Alzheimer research funding. The voices of researchers who can speak firsthand about the challenges of advancing Alzheimer research in an environment of flat funding and intense competition for grant dollars are critically needed to prevent Congress from again failing to adequately fund Alzheimer research.

More information about the Public Policy Forum is available at www.alz.org/publicpolicyforum/08/overview.asp. We hope to see you in Washington.

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Awareness Program Promotes Heart-Brain Connection Among African-Americans 

The Alzheimer’s Association and American Heart Association/American Stroke Association have joined forces to create a public awareness program for African-Americans—“What’s Good for Your Heart is Good for Your Brain”—that focuses on the heart-brain connection.

The first-time collaboration between the two organizations aims to educate African-Americans that by managing their cardiovascular risk, they could also be strengthening their cognitive health and reducing their risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

The program kicked off in February, which is Black History Month as well as American Heart Month, and will continue through May, American Stroke Month.

A survey commissioned by the Alzheimer’s Association and American Heart Association found that although two out of three African-Americans (61 percent) expressed concern about developing heart disease and two out of five (40 percent) expressed concern about developing Alzheimer’s, only about one in 20 (6 percent) are aware that heart health is linked to brain health.

For more information, visit www.alz.org/heartbrain or call the American Stroke Association at 1-888-478-7653 or Alzheimer’s Association at 1-800-272-3900.