Letters: Spend more on Alzheimer’s research

My mother has had Alzheimer’s disease for more than 10 years. I’ve watched her forget how to put on a seatbelt, my name and eventually how to walk. I’ve watched her lose her dignity. It wrecked finances as well, and caused us to lose our childhood home.

At a cost of $236 billion a year, Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in the nation. These costs will only increase as baby boomers age, soaring to more than $1 trillion in 2050.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed. More than 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. Without a medical breakthrough by 2050, the number may reach as high as 16 million.

The federal government must take bold action to confront this epidemic now.

Please contact Sens. Lindsay Graham and Tim Scott and tell them to continue the fight against Alzheimer’s disease by increasing research funding by $400 million in 2017.

This story was originally published June 20, 2016 at 4:11 PM with the headline "Letters: Spend more on Alzheimer’s research."