A letter to the editor: Urging support for Alzheimer’s research

As volunteer advocates with the Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter, we are thankful to work with our members of Congress to ensure this disease remains a priority. We are intimately familiar with the devastating impact of Alzheimer's disease. From our unique vantage points – one as a medical professional and future neurologist, and the other with a deeply personal connection to the disease – we understand the urgent need for action.

My name is Alynn Beyder. I was the primary caretaker and only child to my late mother, who passed away from Alzheimer’s Disease in February 2021, days before her 69th birthday. Deaths from Alzheimer’s have more than doubled between 2000 and 2019, while those from heart disease - the leading cause of death - have decreased. I mourned my mother far before she physically passed away.

My name is Shweta Kalita. My journey as a medical professional, navigating the realms of scientific curiosity and patient care, has led me to a profound realization. Joining the Alzheimer's community shifted my perspective, allowing me to see beyond the clinical environment. It revealed a stark reality where Alzheimer's is not just a neurological condition but a destroyer of homes, hopes, dreams, and individual identities. This experience has transformed me, not just into a better physician, but a more empathetic human being, deeply committed to this cause.

Our stories, though different, converge on a common path – the fight against Alzheimer's. This fight is not just in hospitals and labs; it's in the everyday lives of millions. The progress we’ve made over the past decade in the fight against Alzheimer’s and all other dementia can stem back to the passage of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) and Alzheimer’s Accountability Act (AAA). NAPA created the first-ever national plan to address this disease and AAA created a bypass process for Congress to hear directly from researchers on the funding needed to discover scientific breakthroughs. With all these set to expire in 2025, we urge our representative, Delia Ramirez, to cosponsor and support the NAPA Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability & Investment Act. These pieces of legislation are crucial in the continued effort to address Alzheimer's on a national scale, from advancing research and medical breakthroughs to providing support and care for those affected.

The importance of reauthorizing NAPA and ensuring proper funding through the Alzheimer's Accountability & Investment Act cannot be overstated. These acts represent more than policy; they symbolize a commitment to understanding, treating, and ultimately conquering a disease that affects millions in America alone. It's about preserving the essence of who we are as individuals and as a society.

We stand united in our plea to Representative Ramirez. Supporting these acts is a pivotal step towards a future where Alzheimer's is a memory, not a reality. It's an investment in a future where individuals and families are no longer ravaged by this disease. It's about restoring hope and dignity to those affected.

For more information on our fight, please visit alzimpact.org. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Shweta Kalita
Junior Board Member & Volunteer Advocate, Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter

Alynn Beyder
Junior Board Communications Co-chair & Volunteer Advocate, Alzheimer's Association Illinois Chapter