Thanks to the hard work of AIM, our advocates and bipartisan congressional champions, we saw significant policy momentum last week in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia. 

Kicking off on Monday, the House introduced the bipartisan Accelerating Access to Dementia & Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act (H.R. 7688). This important legislation will empower primary care providers to better diagnose Alzheimer’s and other dementia and deliver high-quality, person-centered care in community-based settings. 

In 85% of cases, primary care providers make the initial diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. But because they are not dementia specialists, most report they do not feel prepared to provide care for these diagnosed individuals. Too often, overburdened primary care providers are unable to access the latest patient-centered dementia training.

Through the use of Project ECHO, the AADAPT Act would provide video-conferencing Alzheimer’s and dementia education and training to more primary care providers to better understand detection, diagnosis, care, and treatment of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Then, on Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed three of AIM’s policy priorities: the bipartisan NAPA Reauthorization Act (H.R. 619 / S. 133), the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (H.R. 620 / S. 134), and the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act (H.R. 7218 / S. 3775). 

Together these bipartisan bills will build on the progress made in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia over the last decade. But with these critical laws set to expire soon, reauthorization is urgently needed. AIM and our advocates remain committed to urging the full House and Senate to swiftly pass these critical, bipartisan bills.

Rounding out the week, on Thursday morning, bipartisan congressional leaders announced a $100 million increase for Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for fiscal year 2024 (FY24). The bill also includes $34 million to fund and continue to implement the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (P.L. 115-406). Throughout the FY24 appropriations process, AIM and our dedicated volunteers throughout the nation have advocated for a research funding increase and BOLD funding.

Because of this additional $100 million in Alzheimer’s research funding, scientists will be able to drive innovation and accelerate improvements in care, treatment and prevention for Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

Thank you to our tireless advocates and bipartisan congressional champions for working to accelerate dementia workforce preparedness, build on the progress made in the fight against Alzheimer’s, and invest in Alzheimer’s research and a dementia public health infrastructure. Together, we will continue to advance policies until we achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.