UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Praises Progress in Alzheimer’s Funding in House Appropriations Bill

Patient advocacy group will seek greater spending increases in the Senate

Washington, D.C. (July 29, 2021) - UsAgainstAlzheimer’s (UsA2) praised the progress made in the Alzheimer’s disease and related spending provisions in the omnibus FY 2022 appropriations bill approved today by the U.S. House of Representatives and promised to build on this foundation of support when the appropriations legislation is taken up by the U.S. Senate.  

The House-passed legislation contains a $200 million increase in Alzheimer’s research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), calls for increases for federal programs to address health disparities and social determinants of health, and provides $3 billion for a new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The Biden Administration proposed ARPA-H to drive transformational innovation in health research and speed application of new technologies and advances; it had requested $6.5 billion in funding. 

“The House approval of a $200 million increase for NIH research funding for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is a positive step forward, and we are grateful for this support,” the organization said. “We and others in the Alzheimer's movement are seeking a $289 million increase in funding for FY22, and we will continue to push for that increase when the appropriations bill is considered in the Senate.

“ARPA-H would be a much-needed a new government capability for health systems innovation, development of new capabilities, technologies and platform systems to apply the knowledge revealed by the NIH’s research grants and expeditiously improve human health,” UsA2 added. “This $3 billion appropriation for FY22 would provide a funding foundation to launch this vital new agency.

“UsAgainstAlzheimer’s thanks the top leaders of the Labor-HHS subcommittee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) for their leadership on this Alzheimer’s-related funding.”

The House spending bill provided $25 million for the Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging Program (ADHAP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), far less than the $60 million sought by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and more than 50 other groups. 

“We are disappointed that ADHAP funding was well below the $60 million called for by more than 50 health, medical, aging, consumer, Alzheimer’s and dementia advocacy groups,” UsA2 said. “This program is the only place within the CDC that is specifically dedicated to the promoting the health of older Americans across multiple chronic conditions and to supporting communities of color at higher risk of Alzheimer's. We call on the Senate to triple funding for this program to $60 million in FY22. The additional funding would allow for urgently needed investment in infrastructure, coordination of healthy-aging efforts across the CDC and a proactive effort to address the health disparities that contribute to brain health inequities in women and communities of color.

In a step in the right direction, the House spending bill provided $150 million for CDC to focus on social determinants of health.

“At the same time, we are encouraged to see a critical funding boost at CDC for addressing the social determinants of health, which we know are leading drivers of health disparities, including in brain health,” UsA2 added. “We urge policymakers to ensure that some of the $150 million be used to bolster current CDC programming and initiatives focused on the social determinants of brain health, such as programs that improve tailored public health education, address neighborhood and built environment, and other key areas as outlined in Healthy People 2030.”   

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About UsAgainstAlzheimer’s

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s exists to conquer Alzheimer’s disease. We take on the toughest problems; bring all of “Us” together to break down barriers; advocate for research that will speed treatments to market; and drive changes that matter most to people living with the disease. We will not rest until brain-span equals lifespan - for everyone. For more information, visit www.usagainstalzheimers.org.