Are all diseases treated equally? – I say no!!!! Alzheimer’s far behind all others

An interesting and thought-provoking perspective. Should the government fund disease research equally across the board? Currently, Alzheimer’s is WAY behind other diseases like cancer and AIDS. Yet, Alzheimer’s care cost the government and society far more. A difficult issue that warrants further discussion.

I recently attended the Alzheimer’s Advocacy Forum in DC. I also heard our message that we need to ask for additional funding, but our goal is not to take from any other diseases that are funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

In some regards, I disagree with this! I know my opinion will not be shared by many, if any!

Fact:

Alzheimer’s is the costliest disease in the country! (Medicade/Medicare and family funded)

$140+ Billion paid by Medicaid and Medicare and only $483 Million in research dollars last year. If we invested $14 Billion a year towards Alzheimer’s research, that would only be 10% of what the federal government spends on Alzheimer’s care. I think that is a good investment to reduce our future expenses.

“… Alzheimer’s is the most expensive malady in the U.S….”

“… skyrocketing at a rate that rarely occurs with a chronic disease.”

“……

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