NEW YORK, May 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Congressional leaders have agreed to a budget package that calls for $400 million in increased funding for Alzheimer’s disease research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the fiscal year (FY) 2017 federal budget. If passed, this would put overall funding for Alzheimer’s disease research at approximately $1.4 billion for FY 2017. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) issued the following statement, from Bert E. Brodsky, AFA’s founder and board chairman, and Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s president and CEO:

“AFA applauds Congressional appropriators, including Representatives Cole and DeLauro and Senators Blunt and Murray, as well as the leaders of both the House and Senate in recognizing and addressing the growing need for Alzheimer’s disease research at NIH.

In order to achieve the goal of the national Alzheimer’s plan—to find a cure or meaningful treatment by 2025—we need to aggressively pursue a path toward that goal, and this funding increase is a step in the right direction. AFA will continue working with stakeholders, advocates, Congressional champions and the White House to ensure that finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease remains a national priority.”

AFA—whose mission is to provide optimal care and services to individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses, and their families—is calling for $2 billion a year for Alzheimer’s disease research from the federal government. This $2 billion figure is the amount that leading Alzheimer’s researchers say is necessary to find a cure by 2025. 

Currently, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, yet it is the only disease state in the top 10 causes of death for which there is neither a cure nor impactful treatment.

About Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA):
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, based in New York, is a non-profit organization that unites more than 2,500 member organizations nationwide in the goal of providing optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and families. Its services include a national, toll-free helpline (866-232-8484) staffed by licensed social workers, educational materials, a free quarterly magazine for caregivers and “AFA Partners in Care” dementia care training for healthcare professionals. For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit www.alzfdn.org, follow us on Twitter, or connect with us on Facebook or LinkedIn.