lzheimer's Funding Policy Paper
Running Head: ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE 1
Alzheimer’s Disease Desperately Needs More
Research Funding
Kirti Bhagat
Grand Canyon University
ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE 2
Alzheimer’s Research Desperately Needs More Research Funding
Alzheimer’s disease is fast-becoming one of the most common maladies suffered by Americans, yet promising research on this illness that is now the sixth-leading cause of death of Americans is being largely unfunded because of persistent underinvestment and lack of significant federal funding. Given the facts and figures on this dreadful and ever-increasing disease, Americans must band together to convince Congress to allot a great deal more money to allay if not cure Alzheimer’s disease.
As Harry Johns, Alzheimer Association CEO and President says, “In the course of the past several decades, we have seen remarkable progress in the area of public health. Unfortunately, Alzheimer 's is not one of the areas in which we have seen that level of discovery because of the chronic underinvestment in Alzheimer 's research, which needs to be addressed now" (alz.org/research center).
Consider the latest statistics on the specter of Alzheimer’s disease. More than 5 million Americans are presently afflicted with Alzheimer’s. One American out of every three dies from Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. In 2013, more than 15 million caregivers contributed more than 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care, which would have cost upwards of 216 billion dollars. Almost 15% of caregivers assisting Alzheimer’s or related dementia patients are doing so via long-distance arrangements. In 2013, Alzheimer’s cost America 203 billion dollars; in the year 2050, this figure is projected to increase to 1.2 trillion dollars (alz.org).
Because Alzheimer’s disease is reaching near-epidemic proportions in the nation
Alzheimer’s Disease Desperately Needs More
Research Funding
Kirti Bhagat
Grand Canyon University
ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE 2
Alzheimer’s Research Desperately Needs More Research Funding
Alzheimer’s disease is fast-becoming one of the most common maladies suffered by Americans, yet promising research on this illness that is now the sixth-leading cause of death of Americans is being largely unfunded because of persistent underinvestment and lack of significant federal funding. Given the facts and figures on this dreadful and ever-increasing disease, Americans must band together to convince Congress to allot a great deal more money to allay if not cure Alzheimer’s disease.
As Harry Johns, Alzheimer Association CEO and President says, “In the course of the past several decades, we have seen remarkable progress in the area of public health. Unfortunately, Alzheimer 's is not one of the areas in which we have seen that level of discovery because of the chronic underinvestment in Alzheimer 's research, which needs to be addressed now" (alz.org/research center).
Consider the latest statistics on the specter of Alzheimer’s disease. More than 5 million Americans are presently afflicted with Alzheimer’s. One American out of every three dies from Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. In 2013, more than 15 million caregivers contributed more than 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care, which would have cost upwards of 216 billion dollars. Almost 15% of caregivers assisting Alzheimer’s or related dementia patients are doing so via long-distance arrangements. In 2013, Alzheimer’s cost America 203 billion dollars; in the year 2050, this figure is projected to increase to 1.2 trillion dollars (alz.org).
Because Alzheimer’s disease is reaching near-epidemic proportions in the nation
References: Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures. (2014). Retrieved March 1, 2014, from http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp Alzheimer’’s Policy and Advocacy. (2014). Retrieved March 2, 2014, from http://www.alz.org/research/funding/alzheimers_policy_and_advocacy.asp California’s Alzheimer’s Disease Program. (2014). Retrieved March 2, 2014, from http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/alzheimers/Pages/default.aspx Campbell, Don. (2013, September 16). Increase Alzheimer’s Research Funding. USA Today Retrieved March 1, 2014, from https://www.alz.org/news_and_events_122_mill_passed.asp