In 2019, my brother Rob was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 56.
I am one year younger than him. Our Alzheimer’s journey has been tough.
Now that Rob’s symptoms have progressed, it’s unlikely that Rob will see a cure for this horrible disease. However, I’m determined to do what I can, as an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association, a care partner, and a younger sister, to change what is currently the inevitable outcome for those diagnosed.
Now is the time for us to do more and not less – and this includes making sure Congress continues to fund Alzheimer’s research and assist with the care and support of our most vulnerable citizens.
Please join me in asking Rep. Cliff Bentz to:
- Please support an additional $113.485 million in FY26 for Alzheimer’s and dementia research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and $35 million for implementation of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and
- Please cosponsor the bipartisan Accelerating Access to Dementia & Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT), which will empower primary care providers to better diagnose Alzheimer’s and other dementias and deliver high-quality, person-centered care in community-based settings.
Early diagnosis is critical. There are now medications to slow disease progression — an exciting development that came too late for my brother but is helping thousands of other people. If you have questions or need help, please reach out to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org — they are here to help!
Kathy Collins, Grants Pass
