Imagine a sea of purple descending on the US Capitol. Paint the Capitol Purple! Last month, I was honored to be one of 14 Hoosier advocates who traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Forum. I joined over 1,000 of my fellow advocates in turning Capitol Hill purple in honor of my mother and other close family members (aunt, uncle, godmother, in-laws) impacted by the devastation of Alzheimer’s. I had the opportunity to meet with several Indiana Members of Congress to discuss the prioritization of Alzheimer’s policies, including the critical importance of funding Alzheimer’s and dementia research. Without sustained research investments, breakthroughs in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer’s are not possible.
Congress’s commitment to ending Alzheimer’s has led to monumental investments in dementia research, care, and support over the past decade. To secure critical advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, we must keep working. That is why I am asking my Representative, Andre Carson, to support a $113.485 million increase in research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in fiscal year 2026. We must continue providing hope to those impacted by this devastating disease.
With more than 7 million Americans living with this fatal disease, we must do more, not less, in the fight to end Alzheimer’s. On behalf of the 12 million caregivers like myself, we must continue investing in Alzheimer’s care and research to bring an end to this devastating disease. Visit alz.org to learn more.
