Each month, we’re featuring an advocate who engages with policymakers to ensure priorities that improve the lives of people impacted by Alzheimer’s and all other dementia remain top-of-mind in Congress.

Tonya Maurer is a driving force behind recent AIM legislative victories for people impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia. As AIM’s November Advocate of the Month, Tonya’s advocacy began with love and a powerful desire to make a difference. 

“All we want is as much time as possible with the ones we love and to live our best life.” Tonya spoke these relatable and powerful words in 2024 when she testified at the Connecticut State Capitol in support of legislation to ensure coverage for biomarker testing. 

But she didn’t start as a superstar advocate, she started like so many others — a caregiver struggling to get answers.

Her mother, a retired registered nurse and social worker, had begun showing subtle signs about a decade ago. “Her symptoms back then were not being able to balance her checkbook or other math issues,” said Tonya. “She was a quilter, she knew math and could keep it in her head.”

But as the disease progressed, so did her symptoms. “I’ll never forget walking up to the deck and hearing crashing,” Tonya recalls from a visit. “She had thrown everything around in her kitchen — and she is a neat freak.” Shortly after, she was prescribed some anti-anxiety medications, but her symptoms continued to develop.

In 2017, Tonya accompanied her to a doctor’s appointment, where her mother finally received her diagnosis. “She never said it, but I think she asked me to come along because she was afraid she wouldn’t remember what was talked about,” Tonya said. “I was so happy I was able to go with her. That made a big difference.”

Recognizing the importance of an early diagnosis has fueled Tonya’s advocacy. 

“Only a few years back, they gave my mom a memory test and said, ‘Sounds like, might be, should be, I really think it’s Alzheimer’s, the way your mom’s presenting.’ We didn’t do any other testing for her,” said Tonya. 

But today, biomarkers offer one of the most promising ways to improve dementia detection and diagnosis. Methods for detecting biomarkers include conducting imaging scans or collecting samples of bodily fluids like blood, saliva, or cerebrospinal fluid. Scientists are rapidly making progress on a new generation of blood tests that might soon replace the more expensive and invasive tools currently used for Alzheimer’s diagnosis, including two recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“We need to get to a world where the diagnostics for Alzheimer’s and other dementias is as common as an EKG or blood work for high cholesterol, instead of a ‘stop the heart’ kind of moment that it is right now,” she said in her 2024 testimony.

Thanks to the efforts of Tonya and other advocates, Connecticut passed legislation in 2025 to expand insurance coverage for comprehensive biomarker testing. This law ensures that Connecticuters can access these vital tests without delay. With FDA-approved treatments now available to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s in its early stages, early detection through biomarker testing is more important than ever. 

“I’m a fierce advocate now [for brain health],” said Tonya. “If you’re having your cholesterol checked, have your brain checked too.”

Tonya first got involved with the Alzheimer’s Association in 2022, joining a Walk to End Alzheimer’s team through her church. At the time, her mother had just moved into a nearby care community. Tonya has become increasingly involved in different initiatives with AIM and the Alzheimer’s Association.

In 2024, Tonya was invited to the Alzheimer’s Association’s Community Leaders Summit where she learned more about the impact of advocacy. “Being invited to the Summit sparked something in me,” Tonya said. “I had a story, and I was willing to say something.” She began attending more legislative meetings, including district meetings with Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.).

Tonya’s advocacy continues to reach new heights at both the state and federal level. During the 2025 AIM Advocacy Forum, Tonya was able to attend a Senate budget hearing on Hill Day. “That was pretty impactful to see the hearing room filled with purple.” Reflecting on her Hill meeting with Rep. Courtney, Tonya recalls, “We had a really good conversation with him. Anytime we talk with him, I totally feel that way.”

Her advocacy also expanded to broader community outreach. “I want to destigmatize the words ‘dementia’ and ‘Alzheimer’s,’” Tonya said. “There are still folks out there that don’t have voices…they need people to pave the way.”

Tonya continues to find creative ways to raise awareness, including a recent 60-mile bike ride to Portland, Connecticut. Throughout her journey, she has also built strong friendships with fellow advocates across the country, many of whom share similar experiences caring for their loved ones. “We’ve gone through a lot together. I think it’s been a lifetime — it’s only been a few years,” said Tonya.

Looking forward, Tonya feels empowered by the growing momentum in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia in state capitols and in Washington, D.C. 

“I feel traction. I really, really do. We have people in our corner who will go to bat for us,” said Tonya. “Put all the party stuff to the side — this is a purple issue, and we need to get ahead of the tsunami that’s coming.”

She’s ready to build off of her advocacy success in Connecticut and help advance AIM’s next federal priority, which will represent a potentially transformative step toward leveraging diagnostic innovation for earlier Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia detection. 

If you’re ready to join her as AIM and the Alzheimer’s Association embark on this next phase of policy, become an advocate today.