Over a decade ago, after the efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association, AIM and bipartisan congressional champions, the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) (P.L. 111-375) was signed into law. This landmark law has led the way for additional policy victories, including the first National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, with the goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer’s by 2025. In addition to the creation of the National Plan, NAPA also directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create and convene the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services to oversee implementation of the National Plan.

Over the years, AIM has continued to work with bipartisan congressional champions to secure additional policy achievements that have all been supported by the National Plan and Advisory Council. These include the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act, the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act, the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (P.L. 115-406), the Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Act, the Promoting Alzheimer’s Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act (P.L. 116-252), and the Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act.

Prior to NAPA, there was no comprehensive plan to address Alzheimer’s, the only leading cause of death with no effective treatment or prevention. In 2010, for every dollar the federal government spent on the cost of Alzheimer’s care, it invested less than a penny on research for the disease.

In addition, since NAPA, AIM has secured vital, unprecedented federal research funding increases, initiated development of crucial public health infrastructure and improved access to quality care. With this legislation set to expire in 2025, AIM took action to renew the nation’s commitment to the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

In October 2024, thanks to the dedication of AIM advocates and congressional champions from both sides of the aisle, the bipartisan NAPA Reauthorization Act (P.L. 118-92) was signed into law. This legislation builds on the progress made over the last decade by reauthorizing the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) (P.L. 111-375).

The NAPA Reauthorization Act extends the strategic National Plan and emphasizes the importance of healthy aging and risk reduction to reflect the new sixth goal of the National Plan. The legislation also added new federal representatives to the NAPA Advisory Council from the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Social Security Administration (SSA). Additionally, it addressed health disparities among underrepresented populations.

By passing the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (P.L.118-93), legislation championed by AIM, Congress also took action to ensure progress continues to be made in Alzheimer’s and dementia research. The bipartisan legislation reauthorized the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act, continuing to ensure that Congress hears directly from National Institute of Health (NIH) scientists on the resources needed to achieve the goals of the National Plan.

Thank you to our outstanding advocates and bipartisan congressional champions for growing support for these critical pieces of legislation and advancing them through the legislative process to see them signed into law. Because of these pivotal laws, our nation will continue making progress in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia. Together we are changing the trajectory of this devastating disease until we one day achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.