For 2016, one serious disease is getting the attention it deserves.
A total of $350 million of the 2016 budget will go to funding the research of Alzheimer's disease, the Alzheimer's Association, the foremost advocate for the disease, reported on Friday, Dec. 18. The federal budget was also signed by President Barack Obama as of the same date.
The news was definitely welcomed by the association. According to the CEO and president of the voluntary health organization Harry Johns, they believe that the Congress has listened to the call of hundreds of the need for a strategic investment that can be helpful in finally finding the right treatment or cure for the disease.
Alzheimer's disease is currently one of the top causes of death in the United States, but it's the only one among the top ten that doesn't have any known cure or treatment. The degenerative and progressive disease that is believed to be caused by the buildup of amyloid deposits that cause the brain cells to die also cannot be slowed down.
The risk of the disease also increases with age, and so far, at least one in three seniors is excepted to die of it or dementia, which is the broad term for disease affecting memory. Most of the affected ones are women.
Many health experts consider Alzheimer's disease to be a serious threat not only because of the growing number of cases and the difficulty of diagnosis and treatment but also of the possible health care costs. By 2050, it may already cost the government more than a trillion dollars unless treatment can be found.
The association is presently working on treating the disease on or before 2025, but to achieve that, it requires extensive funding. The $350 million budget is therefore a huge step as it represents around 50% increase of funding.
Nevertheless, others think that it may still not be enough to meet the objectives by 2025 as the most ideal budget is $1 billion per year. Further, they also compared the funding for other diseases and that of Alzheimer's. Cancer research, for example, receives $6 billion in funding while heart disease research is currently at $2 billion annually.