Alzheimer’s researchers hope funds keep coming

Art Nadler

Monday, July 8, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Proponents of Alzheimer's research are hopeful Congress will shelve its budget-cutting ax and approve a $350 million request for continued funding through 1997.

The House Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations subcommittee recently approved a 6.5 percent increase, which advocates feel is a good start. They're hopeful the Senate's counterpart committee will be just as supportive.

"We are very concerned with all the cuts," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., a member of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations subcommittee. "I think Alzheimer's is a real serious problem. I hope it isn't cut, and that they leave this medical research alone."

Reid's subcommittee is scheduled to act on the funding July 16. He said Congress should decide whether to approve the new budget in August.

"Last year there was a specific effort to cut funding by 10 percent," said Judy Riggs, director of public policy for the Alzheimer's Association. "Almost every week there is a new breakthrough, or another study being released.

"They have found four genes associated with Alzheimer's disease. Scientists are now starting to learn about the mechanics of the disease. There are some studies that estrogen and anti-inflammation drugs make a difference."

Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system. It is characterized by confusion, emotional instability and mental deterioration.

The federal government has funded Alzheimer's research since 1980, Riggs said. Last year, it approved $311 million, and this year's request represents about a 10 percent increase.

About 9,000 people suffer from Alzheimer's disease in Southern Nevada, according to Judy Hetherington of the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. About 4 million Americans suffer from the disease.

The Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association is projecting that 14 million Americans will have the disease by the middle of the next century unless a cure is found. Alzheimer's is the fourth-leading cause of death among adults. One in 10 people older than 65, and nearly half of those older than 85, have the disease.

A person with Alzheimer's disease will spend about $174,000 in medical care in his or her lifetime, ADRDA estimates. The disease is considered the third most expensive, following heart disease and cancer.

"Sen. Reid has always been very supportive of Alzheimer's research, and we expect him to be the same this year," Riggs said. "Alzheimer's disease research has been growing steadily since early 1980. We hope it will continue."