AIM is celebrating another win for families impacted by dementia. The fiscal year (FY) 2026 spending package was recently signed into law, securing a $100 million increase for Alzheimer’s and dementia research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and $41.5 million to implement the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

This victory reflects what AIM was built to do — lead sustained federal advocacy that turns urgency into action and action into progress. With this increase finalized, the total annual federal investment in Alzheimer’s and dementia research will be approximately $3.9 billion, accelerating discovery across the full spectrum of science — from understanding disease mechanisms and identifying biomarkers to advancing prevention strategies, treatments and care approaches.

Funding to implement BOLD reaching $41.5 million represents the highest annual investment since the law was enacted. This increased funding will strengthen state and community capacity to reduce risk factors, promote early detection and diagnosis, support caregivers, and improve outcomes for people living with dementia. Together, these investments ensure that scientific breakthroughs are paired with real‑world impact in communities nationwide.

We are deeply grateful to bipartisan congressional champions who continue to make Alzheimer’s and other dementia a national priority. This funding is a powerful reaffirmation that progress against dementia is not a red issue or a blue issue — it’s purple.

This moment also belongs to the advocates who made it possible. AIM advocates from all 50 states have shown up again and again — sharing their stories, engaging lawmakers, and building the bipartisan support that has driven progress for more than a decade. Their leadership and persistence keep Alzheimer’s and dementia front and center, and this year’s increase is a direct reflection of their impact.

With Alzheimer’s among the most expensive diseases in America, this investment is smart policy. More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s today, and that number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050 as the population ages. Costs are already immense — with health and long‑term care costs for people living with dementia projected to reach $384 billion in 2025 and nearly $1 trillion in 2050.

Investing in research and public health infrastructure now is how we change the trajectory of this disease — accelerating breakthroughs, strengthening care, and moving us closer to a future without Alzheimer’s and other dementia.