Alzheimer's Association

Last month over 1000 fellow Alzheimer's Association advocates were in Washington DC to meet with Congress to express the importance of Alzheimer’s research funding. While I was not there, it's important that we make our voices heard in D.C. and from right here in Illinois. This cause is near and dear to my heart as I lost my mother in 2021 to this horrible disease after battling it for 7 ½ years. I can only hope there will be a cure one day for me and my loved ones.

As you may know, 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 Lauren Underwood to support a $113.485 million increase in research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for FY 2026.

Currently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is funding 495 active clinical trials for dementia prevention, treatment and caregiving. With more than 7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and 12 million caregivers, we must continue to fight for this sustained investment. I was personally one of these caregivers for my mother and know the help caregivers and those with Alzheimer’s need. Together, with Congress' continued support, we can bring an end to this devastating disease once and for all. To learn more about our fight, visit alzimpact.org.