Why I Traveled to Capitol Hill for Alzheimer’s Advocacy

Last month, I joined over a thousand advocates from across the country at the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C. As a representative of the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, I met with Congresswoman Delia Ramirez to ask for her continued support.

Sharing my family’s story on Capitol Hill was emotional but powerful. My grandmother, Marice, lived with Alzheimer’s, and it was heartbreaking to watch her memories fade and her independence vanish. It changed our entire family. That’s why I advocate. Standing among so many others with similar stories, I felt the collective urgency to end this disease once and for all.

Alzheimer’s or another dementia can affect anyone. Thankfully, Congress knows this fight isn’t red or blue - it’s purple. Our bipartisan leaders have played an important role in accelerating the way our nation addresses this disease, but we can’t stop our progress now. That is why I am asking my Representative Delia Ramirez to support a $113.485 million increase in research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for FY 2026.

More than 7 million Americans are living with this disease today. It touches every community, every family, and every corner of our country. The time is now to invest in progress and hope.

To learn more, visit alzimpact.org.